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Hertfordshire County Council

Lifelong Links

Building lasting relationships for children in care.

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What is Lifelong Links?

Lifelong Links helps to find and bring together people who care about you.

You can:

  • reconnect with family members and other trusted adults in a safe way. This could be people you already know, people you haven't seen for a while, or relatives you've never met.

  • learn about your family history.

It can provide you with supportive, stable relationships during your time in care and beyond.

Who is it for?

You can take part in Lifelong Links if you are a young person living in care.

Whoever holds parental responsibility must agree that you can take part. What is parental responsibility?

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What happens next?

We'll give you a Lifelong Links Coordinator.

They will:

1. Talk to you about who you want to build relationships with.

2. Help you complete activities to learn more about your background. This might include drawing a family tree, where you have lived and where you go to school.

3. Try to meet with your parents, and find the people you want to have in your life, if it is safe to do so.

4. Arrange a Lifelong Links celebration event with you and all the people who care about you.

Our coordinators are independent and don't make decisions about your future. They'll keep you, your carer and your social worker updated on their progress.

You can always work at a pace which suits you; there's no pressure to continue with the programme if you don't want to.

Lifelong Links celebration event

Your Lifelong Links coordinator will invite you, your carer, social worker, family and friends to the conference. 

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Find out more

Printable leaflets

If you're a foster carer, take a look at our training, support and policies page.

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