Introduction Facts and People Interview with Minister Writing

Facts and People

 

Facts

  • There are about 57,000 children in care in the UK that are fostered and there is a shortage of 10,000 foster families
  • The average foster placement lasts 9 months
  • The Children’s Care Monitor 2010 found that when children are able to voice their views only 51% say it makes a difference to decisions made about their lives

The project has been organised by the charity Company Paradiso and some of the stories appeared on BBC Radio Berkshire 23rd – 27th May 2011.

Famous people in care

Many famous people were in care or lived away from home as children. For example, Nelson Mandela and two recent American presidents Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford.

 

However what is striking is the number of creative artists who were in care or adopted, including:

  • Musicians Elvis Pressley, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Goldie, Ice-T
  • Actors Marilyn Munroe, James Dean, Charlie Chaplin, Steve McQueen, Jack Nicholson, Eddie Murphy, Pierce Brosnan, Neil Morrissey
  • Writers Leo Tolstoy, Joseph Conrad, JR Tolkien, Jeanette Winterson plus John Keats and William Wordsworth!