Carolyne Willow
@carolynewillow.bsky.social
Family and Public Law Barrister. Honorary Doctor of Laws (2024) and longtime children’s rights advocate. My own views here, obvs.
Speaking for Ourselves is a @heritagefunduk.bsky.social funded project which will share the stories of this unique movement. Join us for an online meeting for allies and professionals on Thursday 29th October, 10-11am Email speakingforourselves@coram.org.uk to attend.
I've written about the study published today into the early deaths of young people who were in care as children: thebarristergroup.co.uk/blog/you-rea...
You really are on your own, though you shouldn’t be.
A review highlights the alarming reality of care leavers in England, revealing a need for improved support and accountability as they transition to adulthood.
thebarristergroup.co.uk
NEW: I can't get this story out of my head. And I know I'm not alone. The attempt to cover up the complicity of the UK media's role in Jason Arday's death may be its sickest move yet. broligarchy.substack.com/p/the-jason-...
The Jason Arday Reckoning
The attempts to cover up the complicity of the UK media’s role in his death may be its sickest move yet
broligarchy.substack.com
G4S announced the sale of its ‘children’s services business’ shortly after a BBC Panorama exposé of serious abuse of children at Medway secure training centre. www.g4s.com/news-and-ins...
g4s.com
@martinbarrow.bsky.social · 2mo agoHomes2Inspire was formerly owned by G4S, which has a terrible reputation in the care of vulnerable children and young people.
Hey Nottingham folk, comedy improv tonight at Fisher Gate Point. Two shows, never to be repeated. Come along!
thebarristergroup.co.uk/blog/retrosp...
Retrospective outrage is no way to run the children’s care system
Carolyne Willow discusses the urgent need to address the illegal use of supported accommodation for vulnerable children in care, emphasizing the importance of immediate action.
thebarristergroup.co.uk
I've written a piece about the dreadful news that a boy at Feltham young offender institution (the part where children are incarcerated) has died, and what government must do next. www.cypnow.co.uk/content/in-d...
Boy’s death in prison raises wider child protection concerns - CYP Now
The death of a boy in custody this week highlights why the government must publish a timetable for the closure of child prisons immediately, says Carolyne Willo
cypnow.co.uk
Children should never have had to wait this long. Child safeguards passed by parliament in 2009 finally look set to be brought into force on 1st April 2026: thebarristergroup.co.uk/blog/restrai...
Restraint and Seclusion in Schools: Child Safeguards To Finally Come Into Force
New legislation in Scotland mandates transparency regarding restraint and seclusion in schools, aiming to protect children's rights and improve accountability.
thebarristergroup.co.uk
Intolerable conditions & treatment of children in care like this ⬇️ forced last government to act. But instead of demanding childcare norms, it chose to 'regulate' supported accommodation with an express goal of not disturbing the market. Absence of day-to-day care baked into the regulations.
@martinbarrow.bsky.social · 7mo agoShocking state of this ‘supported accommodation’ for 16 and 17 yr olds in care in Kent. Truly awful, yet allowed to stay in business.
⬇️ This ace exhibition travels to Cornwall next. Huge thanks to @aligunn.bsky.social for telling me about this. Needs to tour everywhere!
Carolyne Willow@carolynewillow.bsky.social · 8mo agoBrill afternoon absorbing Our Life Stories exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary. Oral history of the lives, loves, injustices & communities of 80+ people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Artwork, peer-led interviews & more. Hat-tip to everyone @unitedresponse.bsky.social involved ✨
Brill afternoon absorbing Our Life Stories exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary. Oral history of the lives, loves, injustices & communities of 80+ people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Artwork, peer-led interviews & more. Hat-tip to everyone @unitedresponse.bsky.social involved ✨
“The fridge freezers in two children’s bedrooms contained mouldy food.” Wonder whether those who led, enabled and supported the demise of day-to-day care for children in care aged 16-17 ever anticipated a company offering such care-less accommodation calling itself ‘Caring Thoughts Ltd’.
@martinbarrow.bsky.social · 9mo agoCaring Thoughts Ltd, a provider of supported accommodation, remains suspended. reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/53/...
Thinking of dear Ian Dickson this evening, a wonderful children’s rights champion and truth-teller. He strove to ensure every child has a ladder to the stars ✨ article39.org.uk/our-story/ch...
A ladder to the stars | Article 39
article39.org.uk
Our challenge to the government's decision to authorise PAVA spray in prisons holding children is being heard in the High Court today. Children and Young People Now coverage: https://www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news/high-court-hears-challenge-to-pava-spray-use-in-children-s-prisons
High Court hears challenge to Pava spray use in children’s prisons - CYP Now
A legal challenge to the government’s decision to extend the use of the chemical irritant spray Pava in young offender institutions (YOI) is underway at the High Court this week.
cypnow.co.uk
After living through the Nazi & atomic bomb eras, Tove Jansson writings would often encompass fearful ideas about loss of a familiar world. However she would balance this with characters who encompassed #kindness & #community, even in the darkest times #WomensArt #WorldKindnessDay
Sky documentary about the death of a very young care leaver, Nonita Grabovskyte, and how we and @inquest-org.bsky.social joined forces to fight for justice for her. Link to documentary here: article39.org.uk/2025/11/11/a...
'A girl called Nonita': Sky documentary tells the shocking story of Nonita Grabovskyte, a young care leaver woefully failed by her corporate parent and others | Article 39
article39.org.uk
Saw this hugely powerful, anger-making production last night in Derby. Catch it if you can. Thinking of my very dear friend Eric Allison who worked tirelessly with @shattenstone.bsky.social to bring to public view the reign of child abuse at Medomsley detention centre graeae.org/event/bad-la...
Bad Lads - Graeae
graeae.org
A veteran activist, who has spent her life campaigning for disability rights, has called on the government to fix the “rotten to the core” social care system, after experiencing “terrifying” treatment during a short stay in a care home. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/safeguarding...
Safeguarding probe launched after veteran disabled activist reports ‘terrifying’ care home experience
A veteran activist, who has spent her life campaigning for disability rights, has called on the government to fix the “rotten to the core” social care system, after experiencing “terrifying” treatm…
disabilitynewsservice.com
2025: a child in care is sleeping on a mattress on the floor in an ‘annex’. Ofsted visit prompted by a serious incident alert. Private company operating the annex illegally. Child’s place paid for by their LA / corporate parent. They will have a social worker and an independent reviewing officer.
illegally.by
@martinbarrow.bsky.social · 12mo agoVulnerable children have been forced to sleep on a mattress on the floor with no bed frame at this so-called supported accommodation run by a private company, Ofsted revealed today.
When giving oral evidence to Covid-19 Inquiry, I said whenever I encounter govt plans to remove or weaken safeguards for children in care I think about past inquiries & scandals. The death of Dennis O’Neill & the cruelty also inflicted on his brother, together with both boys’ bravery, often in mind.
Bylines Network@bylinesnetwork.co.uk · 12mo agoThe forgotten Shropshire tragedy that inspired The Mousetrap The death of 12-year-old Dennis O’Neill in 1945 shocked Britain and led Agatha Christie to write her famous play The Mousetrap | Jonathan Calder @centralbylines.co.uk @lordbonkers.bsky.social
Been reminded (through anniversary of a family wedding I missed 😬) that it’s 29 years since the residential weekend laying the ground for the formation of A National Voice organisation run by and for care experienced people. Anyone on here who attended, I still have group photos!
Vital work of museum of homelessness @ourmoh.bsky.social bringing to light the shocking reality of deaths of people experiencing homelessness. museumofhomelessness.org/news/new-res...
Our investigation finds that 1611 people experiencing homelessness died in 2024 - a 9% increase on the previous year. — Museum of Homelessness
We are devastated to share our latest research into the deaths of those who die. It has revealed the continued impact at the sharpest edge of the homelessness crisis, as the Labour Government has fail...
museumofhomelessness.org
UK Covid-19 Inquiry, day 1 hearing: strong and consistent calls for making the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child fully part of UK law article39.org.uk/uk-covid-19-...
UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 8 hearings - day 1 (29 September 2025) | Article 39
article39.org.uk
Very grateful to Chambers for supporting me to concentrate on assisting @article39.bsky.social over the next month, during the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's module on children and young people. Hearings start Monday 29 September, going through to 23 October. More here: article39.org.uk/2025/09/26/i...
Impact on children of government decision-making during the pandemic to be focus of UK Covid-19 Inquiry hearings across next four weeks | Article 39
article39.org.uk
It is, frankly, devastating to see councils campaigning for MORE supported accommodation, which is increasingly used to house children in care as young as 16, often sharing premises with vulnerable adults. By law, no ‘care’ can be provided. www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...
Councils call for government investment in supported housing - CYP Now
The supply of supported accommodation including for care leavers could fail to meet demand without appropriate government investment, the Local Government Association (LGA) is warning.
cypnow.co.uk
Why was Prison Officers Association speaking about its members working in Oasis Restore secure school on @channel4news.bsky.social when this is legally meant to be a secure children’s home, not a child prison?
Due to one child’s needs, waking night staff in place for 8 months. Yet this is meant to be accommodation for children able to live with high degree of independence (a fiction in itself). This was always policy development full of risks for children, designed by last government for LAs in crisis.
@martinbarrow.bsky.social · last yr.Ofsted’s new inspection regime for so-called supported accommodation for children in care is revealing just how bad this provision is. This summary relates to a provider called Rubi Living Ltd:
A reflection on my care files, three years after sharing “An open letter to the social worker who wrote my case notes”, which ended up going viral at the time. Here’s how my perspective has shifted: (Original letter available at basw.co.uk/articles/ope...)
