Candles and care

A group of Scottish care leavers visited Denmark to undertake a comparative piece of research looking at the similarities and differences between care and leaving care provision in the respective countries. They interviewed Danish young people in two projects for care leavers and visited a range of other projects for young people in care.
Whilst the lived experience of the two groups was broadly similar in relation to common themes of loss, stigma and levels of support in making the transition into young adulthood, the researchers found that the quality of relationships with staff/carers for the Danish young people was often better. The number of placement moves whilst in care was much lower for the Danes. The overall material and nurturing provision for Danish children and young people impressed the researchers.