The Verbatim Formula: Creative Practice for Young People in Twenty-first Century UK Care

各种指标表明，受照料的儿童需要得到照料和教育提供者的更好支持。国家审计署2014年的统计数据显示，20%的无家可归的年轻人、24%的成年监狱人口和70%的性工作者都受到了照顾。2013年，只有6%的护理离开者接受高等教育，而全国该年龄段人口的比例为30%。2015年，33%的被照顾儿童一年内被“安置”在儿童之家或寄养家庭一次以上，10%的儿童被安置三次或三次以上。这种不稳定加剧了被照顾儿童对心理健康问题的脆弱性，并危及他们教育和生活成功所需的稳定性。尽管1989年《儿童法》规定要听取儿童的意见，但过分强调程序和文书工作阻碍了有效的沟通，妨碍了儿童为规划积极的未来所需要的信任关系。言语公式（TVF）将探索应用艺术实践的潜力，以提供重要的干预措施，为年轻人提供改变生活的支持，以及成年人和机构腾出时间，倾听和反思当前实践的机会。在护理系统严重失败的时候，当大学在高等教育白色文件（2016年）之后可能有更多的责任来确保多样化的参与时，TVF将为两个部门的成年专业人员提供机会，共同努力，做出改变，以满足年轻人的需求。该项目利用逐字戏剧的做法，支持表达和自信青年人的声音，将儿童定位为负责其照顾和福祉的服务的创造性评价者。基于QMUL和人民宫项目（PPP），一个核心运营团队已经形成了从QMUL的戏剧，商业和管理，招生和扩大参与部门。其他合作者包括来自大伦敦管理局同行外展团队的年轻人，以及来自伦敦各地的年轻成人护理离开者。该团队共同推动了一系列讲习班，为东南部和英国各地的40名儿童（14-18岁）提供了支持。在这一经验的基础上，TVF的核心活动将包括与伦敦的四所大学合作举办的一系列创意住宿讲习班，为青年人阐明和规划其职业和教育提供实际支助。此外，一名青年研究员（YR）将在巴特西艺术中心（BAC）的支持和指导下开发便携式证词服务（PTS）。在QMUL，PTS将用于在一次发布大学新的情境化招生政策的活动中，从被照顾的儿童、护理离开者和成人护理专业人员那里录制匿名证词。临时秘书处将进一步分享音频证词，提供一个表演工具，为围绕更好地支持受照顾儿童的对话和讨论创造空间。YR和项目的年轻合作伙伴将帮助建立一个校友网络，该网络将成为一个由年轻人和成年人组成的有能力的社区，他们通过照顾和超越彼此的旅程相互支持。通过与BAC举办的一系列活动，包括创意评估实践节，该项目将支持发展和反思创新的艺术和参与性实践，作为评估和提供政府和第三部门的服务。一个网站和电子书的从业人员将传播的研究，以及一系列的学术文章，论文，介绍和性能在主要的学术和专业会议。与议会青年特别委员会的合作将探讨参与式逐字记录做法在更广泛的政策背景下的效用。

Various indicators show that looked-after children need better support from care and education providers. National Audit Office statistics from 2014 show that 20% of young homeless people, 24% of the adult prison population, and 70% of sex workers have been in care. In 2013, only 6% of care leavers were in Higher Education compared to 30% of that age demographic nationally. In 2015, 33% of looked-after children had been 'placed' more than once in a year in a children's home or with a foster family, and 10% had three placements or more. Such instability exacerbates looked-after children's well-documented vulnerability to mental health problems and jeopardises the stability needed for their educational and life success. In spite of the statutory requirement of the 1989 Children's Act to hear children's voices, an over emphasis on procedures and paperwork blocks effective communication and hinders the trusting relationships that children need to project a positive future. THE VERBATIM FORMULA (TVF) will explore the potential of applied arts practice to provide vital interventions, providing life-changing support for young people, as well as opportunities for adults and institutions to make time, to listen, and to reflect on current practices. At a time when the care system is failing badly, and when universities are likely to have more responsibility for ensuring diverse participation following the White Paper for Higher Education (2016), TVF will give opportunities for adult professionals in both sectors to work together and to make changes that respond to young people's needs. Using Verbatim Theatre practices to support the articulation and confidence of young people's voices, the project positions children as creative evaluators of the services that are responsible for their care and wellbeing. Based at QMUL and People's Palace Projects (PPP), a core operational team has been formed from QMUL's Departments of Drama, Business and Management, and Admissions and Widening Participation. Further collaborators include young adults from the Greater London Authority's Peer Outreach Team, and young adult care leavers from across London. Together, this team has facilitated a series of workshops that have supported 40 looked after children (14-18 years) in the South East and across the UK. Building on this experience, core activities in TVF will include a series of creative residential workshops facilitated in partnership with four universities in London to offer practical support to young people in articulating and planning their careers and education. In addition, a Young Researcher (YR) will develop a Portable Testimony Service (PTS) with the support and mentorship of Battersea Arts Centre (BAC). At QMUL, the PTS will be used to perform recorded, anonymised testimonies from looked-after children, care leavers, and adult care professionals, at an event to launch the university's new contextualised admissions policy. The PTS will share the audio testimonies further, providing a performative tool that creates space for dialogue and discussion around supporting looked-after children better. The YR and project's young partners will help to build an Alumni Network that will become a capable community of young people and adults who support each other in their journeys through care and beyond.Through a series of events to be held with BAC including a Festival of Creative Evaluative Practice, the project will support the development of and reflection on innovatory artistic and participatory practice as a means of evaluation and provision of services in loval governments and the third sector. A website and E-book for practitioners will disseminate the research, as well as a series of academic articles, papers, presentations and performances at major academic and professional conferences. Work with Parliament's Youth Select Committee will explore the utility of particpatory verbatim practice to wider policy contexts.