The head of one of the UKs leading children’s charities has singled out the American based Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) mentoring organisation as the inspiration for its’ new support programme for children and young people in the care system.

Mary Romaine, Chair of Tros Gynnal, the Welsh charity which stands up for the rights of children and young people announced the international connection, launching the ‘Positive Roles Toolkit’ at the Welsh Assembly Government. 

Introduced into Wales after a three-year pilot phase, The Toolkit has been designed to make it easier for Welsh local authorities to recruit Independent Visitors for looked after children in the country who are separated from their families.

In her speech at the Welsh Assembly Government, Mary Romaine told delegates that she first made the connection with BBBS after watching an episode of The West Wing.  

Mary Romaine said: “At the beginning of season four of The West Wing the character CJ Cregg encourages Charlie Young to become a ‘Big Brother’ to Anthony Marcus, who is quite a troubled young man.  

The concept interested me and I explored it further, discovering the BBBS website and the found out more about the excellent work of the organisation in the United States.  It helped me understand that at the heart of a successful mentoring scheme is the young person’s real feelings of being valued and worthwhile. 

The mentor is often the only adult who offers a long-term commitment to the young person and models a relationship which is positive.”

Mary Romaine added: “We took the inspiration for the pilot from the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program and for that I am eternally grateful for their pioneering work.”

Roger Bishop Executive Director Tros Gynnal said:  “Many of the 4,700 children in the Welsh care system have no contact with their birth families and there is often no one consistent person who takes long-term interest in their lives. Social workers, foster carers, teachers and residential care staff can change and will not continue to be involved with the young people when they leave care.”

According to Tros Gynnal, the most effective relationships are built up through children being matched with Independent Visitors closer to their own age.

Jason who lives with foster carers says that “the other foster children who live with me see their family and get to go home to visit them at Christmas and stuff. They get cards and birthday gifts and I had no one for a long time. Now my independent visitor takes me to watch football and I can ring or text him whenever I want and he is always there to hear if something good has happened at school or I am feeling a bit sad about something”.

Roger  Bishop said:  “Young people told us they wanted an independent visitor, who was young, could relate well to them and be a positive role model in their lives – like a big brother or sister. For many children in care this may be the only long-term relationship in their lives to date.”

Copies of the Positive Roles Tool Kit are available from: familycircle@trosgynnal.org.uk