Bags of comfort items given to children going into care

Plymouth children and young people will receive their items packed into Madlug (Make a Difference Luggage) foundation bags

Plymouth children placed into care are being given a bag containing items to make their experience easier.

Hand-knitted toys, books, pyjamas and toiletries are among the items packed into the rucksack.

The idea is a partnership between the children’s charity Barnardo’s, Plymouth City Council and the Buddy Bag Foundation, a charity that has been providing the bags of comfort since 2015.

The charity said by giving children their own essential and comforting items they can keep with them, it helps increase their sense of self-worth, security and belonging.

The Barnardo's team travelled to the Buddy Bags base in Sutton Coldfield to pack the rucksacks

Carin Laird, senior project worker at Barnardo's Plymouth Care Journeys said the bags were first issued earlier this year, and the idea came from speaking to young people in care.

She said: "Some children have nothing when starting their journey into care other than the clothes they were stood up in.

"The process itself takes from them around their identity and who they are, having to leave all their things behind and nothing familiar or that they own can be challenging and can be really difficult.

"I think these bags will make a massive difference. I think for them to have something of their own from the minute they get there, it gives them that sense of pride and ownership", she added.

Shelby Walker (left) and Skye Boswell (right) were both in the care system from a young age

Skye Boswell and her sister Shelby Walker entered emergency care prior to moving to Plymouth.

Ms Walker, who now helps create the bags, said she wishes they had been available to her.

"Even though we started releasing these on the 1 April, it's already left a really good impact this year for young people and it just needs to go further", she said.

Ms Boswell said: "I absolutely, one hundred percent, would've definitely benefitted from one of these bags."