Connecting through care

A new podcast from Youth Studies student Sancia Williams offers a platform for care leavers to challenge stereotypes and share their stories.

Date: 13 May 2021

A new Youtube channel and podcast from London Met Youth Studies student, Sancia Williams, provides a platform for care leavers and people with care experience to share their stories.

It aims to encourage, empower and enable young people and social care professionals to promote social change and bring about awareness for individuals with care experience. At the same time, it aims to change the narrative and challenge the negative perception of the care system.

Entitled Sancia’s Podcast, the channel offers a safe, space that gives adults with care experience a platform to have their voices heard through sharing their stories and experiences in the social care system. As well as drawing upon professional advice and information, Sancia’s Podcast aims to change the narrative and challenge the negative perception of the care system.

A document produced by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service found that care leavers are more likely to have a criminal conviction, and may have experienced unnecessary criminalisation. They are estimated to represent between 24 and 27 per cent of the adult prison population, despite less than 1% of under 18s entering local authority care each year.

In addition, according to the Department for Education, in 2018-19 only 13% of pupils who were looked after by Social Services entered higher education compared to 43% of the general public. 

Sancia explained her motivation for starting the podcast, saying, "By becoming a Youth Studies student at London Metropolitan University I have broken the stigma of NEET Care leavers, and the statistic of unnecessary criminalisation.

"The Youth Studies course has enhanced my development through knowledge, and the continuous support from the course leader Aine Woods and the tutors are incredible, their passion shone throughout.

"By knowing my rights, the social constructs of society and by being self-aware and reflective, I can now use the power of my knowledge in practice to aid other young people in society."

woman in a recording booth, speaking into a microphone