Christmas is coming and for some it is a time for celebrating and having fun. However, Christmas can also bring up a lot of negative feelings. December can be a difficult time for people due to things like past trauma and family problems. Also, a lot of places you would usually go to for support are closed for the holidays and you may not know where to turn to. However, there are still some services open or partially open over Christmas where you can go to get support with yo

On the first Friday of every month we run an open day event. Book an appointment and find out about all the services we offer children and young people , including further education and training for 16-18 year-olds, supported accommodation for 16+, and our fostering agency. Feel free to come down if you're interested in being a foster carer and meet our agency manager who can answer any questions you have. next open day Friday 9th January, 9:30am-12:30pm The next three open

Supported accommodation plays a critical role in helping young people build stability, confidence, and independence. With Ofsted now overseeing this sector, providers are expected to work to a clear set of principles that define what good care looks like and how young people should be supported. These principles set the tone for safe environments, consistent support, and strong relationships. ofsted key principle one; young people should feel safe The first principle is simp

This November, across the UK we mark National Care Leavers Month (NCLM), a dedicated time to recognise, celebrate and support young people who are care experienced. what is national care leavers month? Originally the UK marked a one-week event called National Care Leavers’ Week, but in 2025 the week formally became a full month. NCLM is organised by and with care-experienced young people, supported by the Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers. It exists for the publi

In recent years, the importance of listening to the voices of children and young people has gained significant recognition. The UK Children’s Commissioner has launched an initiative known as "The Big Conversation" aimed at engaging with children and young people across the country. This initiative seeks to understand their views, experiences, and aspirations, ensuring that their voices are heard in discussions that affect their lives. The Big Conversation is not just a one-o

Our Independent Visiting service had a busy summer and autumn of visits and activities! asphaleia delivers the Independent Visiting Service for East Sussex County Council and it's a service that provides a volunteer befriender to children and young people in care. The Independent Visitors are matched to their YP and they arrange monthly visits to take the young person out into the community to do something fun and spend time together. The service enables the child to have an

The State of the Nation 2025 report from the Centre for Young Lives has now been published. It provides a detailed and sobering overview of the challenges facing children and young people in England today, with millions growing up in poverty, homelessness, poor health, or struggling with mental health difficulties.   Key findings include:   4.5 million children living in relative poverty – nearly a third of all children 165,000 children in temporary accommodation, a 33% inc

Last week, asphaleia held its annual Learning and Development Week (L&D) for staff across the organisation. It is an opportunity for staff to examine a particular theme related to our work as an organisation and gain new knowledge, skills, and insight to apply to current practices. This year’s theme was -   Policy with Purpose: Driving Culture, Compliance & Capability   learning & development week; allowing policies to shape practices Policies aren’t just rules, they’re refle

Neurodiversity is the notion that differences in the makeup of the brain are a natural part of the human condition. Many people may be of the understanding that ADHD or autism should or could be ‘fixed’. However, this cannot be the case since these variations of the brain are a natural part of diversity and it's important to embrace neurodiversity. Some people’s brains may process bits of information very differently to others and therefore they may socialise and communicate

At asphaleia this month, we'll be exploring the importance of Black history and celebrating the achievements of Black individuals who...

Th 19th of September is Youth Mental Health Day. T his year's theme, Share Support , encourages young people and those around them to...

We are excited to share that earlier this year our supported accommodation services officially received registration from OFSTED. This...

In July 2025, the UK government amended its legislation to grant voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds. This groundbreaking decision...

Earlier this year, asphaleia's HR Director delivered supervision training to our service coordinators, who lead our supported...

Recently, asphaleia care held development days for staff working across our West Sussex and Brighton services. The first was for...

At asphaleia, we are proud to hold several respected accreditations that reflect our dedication to quality, people, ethical standards,...

Across 2025, we’re celebrating 25 years of asphaleia through many activities and through stories on our blog. This story features an...

Thursday 30th July marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Trafficking is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights....

On the 13-14th May, we welcomed our Matrix Assessor to meet and talk with some of our staff, students and young people and some of our...

The Exceptional People in Care Awards are a chance to recognise the talents, achievements and skills of the young people in care,...