Heather Neale

St Christopher's Fellowship

St Christopher's is a charity that was set up in 1870 to support children and young people in the UK and Isle of Man. We do this by providing children's homes, semi-independent homes and support, fostering and specialist support services, all designed for young people in care, on the edge of care, or leaving care. When they live with us they feel safe and cared for. Our approach is founded on using evidence-based best practice to support children and young people to reach their full potential. Our partnership with experts at the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies (CATS) supports us to use innovative tools like Q-Pack and attachment theory, which inform the personalised care plans we produce for every young person. Children and young people are central to everything we do. We provide them with opportunities to be involved in decision-making, from helping to shape new services and their own homes to interviewing new members of staff. These experiences boost self-esteem and equip young people with the essential transferable skills they need for the future. We forge meaningful, lasting relationships with young people, staff, foster carers and stakeholders by making sure our actions always reflect our beliefs. Working in this way allows us to build trust and empower people to do their best, whatever their role.