Rebekah Pierre
@bekahpierre.bsky.social
Deputy Director - Article 39
Care Experienced Author & Campaigner
OUT NOW - Free Loaves on Fridays: The Care System as Told by People who Actually Get It:
https://unbound.com/books/free-loaves-on-fridays
Care Experienced Author & Campaigner
OUT NOW - Free Loaves on Fridays: The Care System as Told by People who Actually Get It:
https://unbound.com/books/free-loaves-on-fridays
With 4 in 10 children aged 16-17 now in care-less accommodation, the government’s assertion that it only be used in “exceptional circumstances” couldn’t be further from the truth.
Read about our open letter to @JoshMacAlister ⬇️.
#KeepCaringto18
www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...
Read about our open letter to @JoshMacAlister ⬇️.
#KeepCaringto18
www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...
Children’s minister urged to end ‘care-less’ housing for older looked-after children - CYP Now
Campaigners have called on children’s minister Josh MacAlister to close a gap in the care system that leaves thousands of 16- and 17- year-olds “without day-to-day care” and vulnerable to exploitation...
www.cypnow.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
With 4 in 10 children aged 16-17 now in care-less accommodation, the government’s assertion that it only be used in “exceptional circumstances” couldn’t be further from the truth.
Read about our open letter to @JoshMacAlister ⬇️.
#KeepCaringto18
www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...
Read about our open letter to @JoshMacAlister ⬇️.
#KeepCaringto18
www.cypnow.co.uk/content/news...
Article 39 has sent an open letter to @JoshMacAlister, urging an end to care-less accommodation for 16-17 year olds.
No loving parent would leave their GCSE aged child in a caravan alone, or in a hostel with vulnerable adults. The risks are obvious.
#KeepCaringTo18
No loving parent would leave their GCSE aged child in a caravan alone, or in a hostel with vulnerable adults. The risks are obvious.
#KeepCaringTo18
October 10, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Article 39 has sent an open letter to @JoshMacAlister, urging an end to care-less accommodation for 16-17 year olds.
No loving parent would leave their GCSE aged child in a caravan alone, or in a hostel with vulnerable adults. The risks are obvious.
#KeepCaringTo18
No loving parent would leave their GCSE aged child in a caravan alone, or in a hostel with vulnerable adults. The risks are obvious.
#KeepCaringTo18
Social Work England’s policy toward maternity leave during registration renewal is at odds with social work values.
Not only is it despairing to see the 33% fee hike (with no exemption) but the assumption learning isn’t being “nurtured” during mat leave is patronising & outdated.
Not only is it despairing to see the 33% fee hike (with no exemption) but the assumption learning isn’t being “nurtured” during mat leave is patronising & outdated.
September 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Social Work England’s policy toward maternity leave during registration renewal is at odds with social work values.
Not only is it despairing to see the 33% fee hike (with no exemption) but the assumption learning isn’t being “nurtured” during mat leave is patronising & outdated.
Not only is it despairing to see the 33% fee hike (with no exemption) but the assumption learning isn’t being “nurtured” during mat leave is patronising & outdated.
Subject access request routes for care leavers are unfit for purpose.
I’ve received bin collection letters with more warmth than the communication I had from my local authority when I requested my files.
I’ve received bin collection letters with more warmth than the communication I had from my local authority when I requested my files.
'I’ve had bin collection letters with more warmth': Rebekah Pierre on the reality of accessing care records - Community Care
Rebekah Pierre discusses the impersonal process of receiving her care records and how councils need to better support care leavers
www.communitycare.co.uk
August 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Subject access request routes for care leavers are unfit for purpose.
I’ve received bin collection letters with more warmth than the communication I had from my local authority when I requested my files.
I’ve received bin collection letters with more warmth than the communication I had from my local authority when I requested my files.
‘I’ve had bin collection letters with more warmth’
I wrote about subject access requests for care files in @CommunityCare
As corporate parents, local authorities have a duty of care; they can’t control the content, but they can control the delivery:
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/08/c...
I wrote about subject access requests for care files in @CommunityCare
As corporate parents, local authorities have a duty of care; they can’t control the content, but they can control the delivery:
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/08/c...
'I’ve had bin collection letters with more warmth': Rebekah Pierre on the reality of accessing care records - Community Care
Rebekah Pierre discusses the impersonal process of receiving her care records and how councils need to better support care leavers
www.communitycare.co.uk
August 8, 2025 at 3:06 PM
‘I’ve had bin collection letters with more warmth’
I wrote about subject access requests for care files in @CommunityCare
As corporate parents, local authorities have a duty of care; they can’t control the content, but they can control the delivery:
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/08/c...
I wrote about subject access requests for care files in @CommunityCare
As corporate parents, local authorities have a duty of care; they can’t control the content, but they can control the delivery:
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/08/c...
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...)
Here’s how my perspective has shifted:
(Original letter available at basw.co.uk/articles/ope...)
July 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
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...)
Here’s how my perspective has shifted:
(Original letter available at basw.co.uk/articles/ope...)
The appallingly comments made by Cllr Andy Osborn about children in care are doing the rounds.
As far as I’m concerned, his words don’t deserve any airtime. Not in this context, or indeed in the context of
As far as I’m concerned, his words don’t deserve any airtime. Not in this context, or indeed in the context of
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
June 6, 2025 at 11:30 AM
The appallingly comments made by Cllr Andy Osborn about children in care are doing the rounds.
As far as I’m concerned, his words don’t deserve any airtime. Not in this context, or indeed in the context of
As far as I’m concerned, his words don’t deserve any airtime. Not in this context, or indeed in the context of
My childcare fell through ahead of a keynote presentation this week and I was faced with a dilemma. Here’s what happened:
May 23, 2025 at 7:21 AM
My childcare fell through ahead of a keynote presentation this week and I was faced with a dilemma. Here’s what happened:
My childcare fell through this week ahead of a keynote presentation. Initially I thought about joining virtually; I was concerned that my little one might cause too much disruption, and detract from my message. /1
May 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
My childcare fell through this week ahead of a keynote presentation. Initially I thought about joining virtually; I was concerned that my little one might cause too much disruption, and detract from my message. /1
You know that feeling when you’re at the GP, and you can see the doctor glancing to the side, clock watching whilst you’re sat there sharing painfully private information? Where the screen in front of them seems to have more pull than you, the individual beside them?
March 27, 2025 at 5:40 PM
You know that feeling when you’re at the GP, and you can see the doctor glancing to the side, clock watching whilst you’re sat there sharing painfully private information? Where the screen in front of them seems to have more pull than you, the individual beside them?
Like many care-experienced people, I am ambiguous about #careday25 - it mostly feels like a day for big orgs to gain PR opportunities/fish for likes.
That being said, it would be remiss not to mention Free Loaves on Fridays, written by 100 care experienced children & adults.
That being said, it would be remiss not to mention Free Loaves on Fridays, written by 100 care experienced children & adults.
Free Loaves on Fridays: The Care System As Told By People Who Actually Get It
Buy Free Loaves on Fridays: The Care System As Told By People Who Actually Get It by Rebekah Pierre, Pierre, Rebekah (ISBN: 9781800183001) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
February 21, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Like many care-experienced people, I am ambiguous about #careday25 - it mostly feels like a day for big orgs to gain PR opportunities/fish for likes.
That being said, it would be remiss not to mention Free Loaves on Fridays, written by 100 care experienced children & adults.
That being said, it would be remiss not to mention Free Loaves on Fridays, written by 100 care experienced children & adults.
I used to avoid the 20th December. It marked a painful ending as a child in care whose placement broke down at Christmas.
Now it marks a new beginning in a book where 100 care experienced people reclaim our past.
Find your Christmas copy of Free Loaves on Fridays here: unbound.com/books/free-l...
Now it marks a new beginning in a book where 100 care experienced people reclaim our past.
Find your Christmas copy of Free Loaves on Fridays here: unbound.com/books/free-l...
December 20, 2024 at 6:21 PM
I used to avoid the 20th December. It marked a painful ending as a child in care whose placement broke down at Christmas.
Now it marks a new beginning in a book where 100 care experienced people reclaim our past.
Find your Christmas copy of Free Loaves on Fridays here: unbound.com/books/free-l...
Now it marks a new beginning in a book where 100 care experienced people reclaim our past.
Find your Christmas copy of Free Loaves on Fridays here: unbound.com/books/free-l...
Reposted by Rebekah Pierre
NEW: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Our initial analysis of the Bill was published this morning. Sorry we cannot join the chorus of congratulations. We expect so much more for children and young people.
article39.org.uk/childrenswel...
Our initial analysis of the Bill was published this morning. Sorry we cannot join the chorus of congratulations. We expect so much more for children and young people.
article39.org.uk/childrenswel...
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill | Article 39
article39.org.uk
December 18, 2024 at 5:33 PM
NEW: Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Our initial analysis of the Bill was published this morning. Sorry we cannot join the chorus of congratulations. We expect so much more for children and young people.
article39.org.uk/childrenswel...
Our initial analysis of the Bill was published this morning. Sorry we cannot join the chorus of congratulations. We expect so much more for children and young people.
article39.org.uk/childrenswel...
Reposted by Rebekah Pierre
Recommended to anyone for anyone (except those who don’t want to see the world through the eyes of others who may share complex and difficult stories).
December 11, 2024 at 9:05 AM
Recommended to anyone for anyone (except those who don’t want to see the world through the eyes of others who may share complex and difficult stories).
Reposted by Rebekah Pierre
Article 39's Founder Director receives honorary doctorate | Article 39
article39.org.uk
December 12, 2024 at 5:34 PM
In case you missed it - @article39.bsky.social response to gov's children's social care strategy, covering proposals for:
📌Children deprived of liberty
📌16-17 year olds in care-less accommodation
📌Corporate parenting
📌Tackling profiteering
& much more...
article39.org.uk/labour-gover...
📌Children deprived of liberty
📌16-17 year olds in care-less accommodation
📌Corporate parenting
📌Tackling profiteering
& much more...
article39.org.uk/labour-gover...
Labour government unveils its plans for children’s social care
Government this week (18 November 2024) unveiled its plans for children’s social care through two key documents – a document presented to parliament called ‘Keeping children safe, helping fami…
article39.org.uk
November 26, 2024 at 9:48 PM
In case you missed it - @article39.bsky.social response to gov's children's social care strategy, covering proposals for:
📌Children deprived of liberty
📌16-17 year olds in care-less accommodation
📌Corporate parenting
📌Tackling profiteering
& much more...
article39.org.uk/labour-gover...
📌Children deprived of liberty
📌16-17 year olds in care-less accommodation
📌Corporate parenting
📌Tackling profiteering
& much more...
article39.org.uk/labour-gover...
What Jim said 🎁 🎄Free Loaves on Fridays is the gift that keeps on giving long beyond Christmas Day, containing stories, poems & letters from 100 care-experienced children and adults.
Proceeds to Article 39 & The Together Trust.
unbound.com/books/free-loa…
Proceeds to Article 39 & The Together Trust.
unbound.com/books/free-loa…
November 21, 2024 at 8:48 PM
What Jim said 🎁 🎄Free Loaves on Fridays is the gift that keeps on giving long beyond Christmas Day, containing stories, poems & letters from 100 care-experienced children and adults.
Proceeds to Article 39 & The Together Trust.
unbound.com/books/free-loa…
Proceeds to Article 39 & The Together Trust.
unbound.com/books/free-loa…
Great to see a book review of Free Loaves on Fridays amongst excellent company in this journal.
"A book with such a diversity of written experiences and formats that it’s possibly the closest thing we’ll ever have to an encyclopaedia of the care
experience"
Open access.
"A book with such a diversity of written experiences and formats that it’s possibly the closest thing we’ll ever have to an encyclopaedia of the care
experience"
Open access.
The latest issue of the Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care covers topical issues in residential child care across research, policy and practice, locally, nationally and internationally. Read the new issue online now: https://buff.ly/3CBACwo #SJRCC
November 21, 2024 at 7:58 PM
Great to see a book review of Free Loaves on Fridays amongst excellent company in this journal.
"A book with such a diversity of written experiences and formats that it’s possibly the closest thing we’ll ever have to an encyclopaedia of the care
experience"
Open access.
"A book with such a diversity of written experiences and formats that it’s possibly the closest thing we’ll ever have to an encyclopaedia of the care
experience"
Open access.
A few months back, Lemn Sissay & I spoke to Pod Save the UK about the gross privatisation of the care system.
The government’s new children’s social care strategy could have halted this. Yet it treats providers with kid-gloves, asking them to ‘voluntarily limit profit’ before legislative🧵
The government’s new children’s social care strategy could have halted this. Yet it treats providers with kid-gloves, asking them to ‘voluntarily limit profit’ before legislative🧵
November 20, 2024 at 9:43 PM
A few months back, Lemn Sissay & I spoke to Pod Save the UK about the gross privatisation of the care system.
The government’s new children’s social care strategy could have halted this. Yet it treats providers with kid-gloves, asking them to ‘voluntarily limit profit’ before legislative🧵
The government’s new children’s social care strategy could have halted this. Yet it treats providers with kid-gloves, asking them to ‘voluntarily limit profit’ before legislative🧵
For anyone interested in the children's social care strategy launched yesterday, this is a really useful and comprehensive breakdown from @basw-uk.bsky.social
Definitely worth bookmarking in case you haven't already seen it🔖
basw.co.uk/about-social...
Definitely worth bookmarking in case you haven't already seen it🔖
basw.co.uk/about-social...
Crackdown on profiteering from children's social care in reforms hailed as biggest in a generation
But is it the reset needed? A breakdown of government announcement with sector reaction and analysis
basw.co.uk
November 19, 2024 at 12:07 PM
For anyone interested in the children's social care strategy launched yesterday, this is a really useful and comprehensive breakdown from @basw-uk.bsky.social
Definitely worth bookmarking in case you haven't already seen it🔖
basw.co.uk/about-social...
Definitely worth bookmarking in case you haven't already seen it🔖
basw.co.uk/about-social...
Bitterly disappointing to see this soft-touch approach to ending profiteering in care system.
Asking providers to 'voluntarily limit' profits (when cost of a child in care can exceed £1m p/a) assumes a level of trust never earned.
Tougher measures are needed now; gentle negotiations won’t work.
Asking providers to 'voluntarily limit' profits (when cost of a child in care can exceed £1m p/a) assumes a level of trust never earned.
Tougher measures are needed now; gentle negotiations won’t work.
Overhaul of children’s social care in England will crack down on firms’ profiteering
Overhaul of children’s social care in England will crack down on firms’ profiteering
Government says wide-ranging reforms will end ‘neglect’ in system that leaves young people behind
* Labour ready to show it is serious about changing children’s social care
Excessive profiteering by unscrupulous private companies charging sky-high…
dlvr.it
November 18, 2024 at 1:07 PM
Bitterly disappointing to see this soft-touch approach to ending profiteering in care system.
Asking providers to 'voluntarily limit' profits (when cost of a child in care can exceed £1m p/a) assumes a level of trust never earned.
Tougher measures are needed now; gentle negotiations won’t work.
Asking providers to 'voluntarily limit' profits (when cost of a child in care can exceed £1m p/a) assumes a level of trust never earned.
Tougher measures are needed now; gentle negotiations won’t work.
Reposted by Rebekah Pierre
NEW: Government urged to end the wilful neglect of teenagers in care. Timeline showing how last government reversed the strong, cross-party political consensus that children in care aged 16 and 17 should not have to fend for themselves.
#KeepCaringTo18
article39.org.uk/2024/11/18/g...
#KeepCaringTo18
article39.org.uk/2024/11/18/g...
Government urged to end the wilful neglect of teenagers in care
As the new government promises (18 November 2024) “a more secure life for children across the country”, and legislation that will transform the children’s care system, children…
article39.org.uk
November 18, 2024 at 8:22 AM
NEW: Government urged to end the wilful neglect of teenagers in care. Timeline showing how last government reversed the strong, cross-party political consensus that children in care aged 16 and 17 should not have to fend for themselves.
#KeepCaringTo18
article39.org.uk/2024/11/18/g...
#KeepCaringTo18
article39.org.uk/2024/11/18/g...
There’s a lot of tokenism in lived experience participation.
Whether it’s requests for unpaid keynotes “for the exposure!”, or politicians stopping by for a photo opp before disappearing, much needs to change.
Pleased to be 1 of 15 care experienced people to contribute to this paper. Open access 👇🏼
Whether it’s requests for unpaid keynotes “for the exposure!”, or politicians stopping by for a photo opp before disappearing, much needs to change.
Pleased to be 1 of 15 care experienced people to contribute to this paper. Open access 👇🏼
New paper led by @DrKatieEllis based on interviews with 15 prominent care experienced activists regarding their activism to achieve change in care systems. Thank you to all the participants for their insights.
Available:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Available:
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 16, 2024 at 11:38 PM
There’s a lot of tokenism in lived experience participation.
Whether it’s requests for unpaid keynotes “for the exposure!”, or politicians stopping by for a photo opp before disappearing, much needs to change.
Pleased to be 1 of 15 care experienced people to contribute to this paper. Open access 👇🏼
Whether it’s requests for unpaid keynotes “for the exposure!”, or politicians stopping by for a photo opp before disappearing, much needs to change.
Pleased to be 1 of 15 care experienced people to contribute to this paper. Open access 👇🏼
Reposted by Rebekah Pierre
NEW: Hundreds of children are being deprived of their liberty - and placed in illegal/unregulated care.
AirBnBs, security guards, restraints - and often costing the state £1m+
Ministers want to act on this shocking failure of our welfare state:
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
AirBnBs, security guards, restraints - and often costing the state £1m+
Ministers want to act on this shocking failure of our welfare state:
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
Fears grow over UK children at risk placed in illegal care homes
Rising number of vulnerable youngsters are being forced into unsuitable accommodation including Airbnbs, bedsits and caravans
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2024 at 7:37 PM
NEW: Hundreds of children are being deprived of their liberty - and placed in illegal/unregulated care.
AirBnBs, security guards, restraints - and often costing the state £1m+
Ministers want to act on this shocking failure of our welfare state:
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
AirBnBs, security guards, restraints - and often costing the state £1m+
Ministers want to act on this shocking failure of our welfare state:
www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
Reposted by Rebekah Pierre
We are thinking of Amir Safi, and his grieving family and friends. Another young person failed by the immigration system, with social work complicity. We are sorry on behalf of the profession. 1/
tinyurl.com/y4xam3ts
tinyurl.com/y4xam3ts
Young Afghan asylum seeker run over on M1 ‘upset’ after being ruled an adult
Amir Safi, who said he was 16, was ‘quiet and withdrawn’ following social worker’s assessment, inquest hears
tinyurl.com
November 14, 2024 at 6:05 PM
We are thinking of Amir Safi, and his grieving family and friends. Another young person failed by the immigration system, with social work complicity. We are sorry on behalf of the profession. 1/
tinyurl.com/y4xam3ts
tinyurl.com/y4xam3ts