Overview
Entering the care system can be a daunting experience for children, often marked by confusion and loss. In Wales there are more than 7,000 children in care, many of whom arrived with their belongings in bin liners, fostering feelings of worthlessness. Heirs is an organisation addressing this crisis through its “love in a bag” programme, providing essential supplies and emotional support to children in care, instilling dignity and hope during a vulnerable period of their lives.
Entering the care system can be a daunting experience for children, often marked by upheaval, confusion, and loss. In Wales there are more than 7,000 children in care. Many of the children arrive at foster homes with their belongings hastily packed in bin liners, leading to feelings of worthlessness and neglect. This harsh reality is captured in the words of a care graduate who expressed, “I felt like rubbish,” underscoring the emotional trauma these young individuals endure during a vulnerable period of their lives.
Heirs is an organisation founded to address this crisis, with a mission to instil dignity and value in the lives of children entering care. Their “love in a bag” programme provides essential supplies in a backpack. Each bag is filled with toiletries, water bottles, storybooks, fidget toys, and comfort items such as teddies or blankets. They also support children emotionally, offering affirmation cards with uplifting phrases to inspire hope.
Operating primarily in Carmarthenshire, they receive referrals from social workers and other professionals working with children across Wales, and also work with police stations, where children who are removed from their parents often spend a long time.
The difference Heirs makes in the lives of children is profound. Testimonials from care professionals reveal that the simple act of receiving a new backpack has transformed children’s feelings of abandonment into feelings of worth and love. Children have expressed emotional gratitude upon receiving their bags, demonstrating how a small gesture can provide hope and resilience.
With 162 backpacks distributed to date, Heirs has not only provided immediate relief in emergency situations but also created an atmosphere of care and consideration for those most vulnerable.
The £2,500 grant from the John Good Group will help ensure the sustainability and growth of Heirs by supporting supply of backpacks, and core costs. Each backpack costs just £40, and they would also like to hire an additional part-time staff member to manage operations. As an extremely small, new project, this grant will make a huge impact on their ability to ensure that every child in Wales has a brighter future.
Being shortlisted is incredible. We are a small, high impact charity open to all voluntary sector leaders across South Yorkshire. Many of the charities we support are small or medium sized organisations, the smallest being a food bank and community larder operating from the founder’s own house.
Support for us means support for a wide range of diverse charities from across the region, resulting in a significant impact for a large number of communities and service users.
Martin Singer
