New tech means young people can rate and influence the services they receive

Quarriers has launched an app enabling young people in care to reveal what’s good and bad in their lives.

Mind of My Own (Momo) helps them talk about the care they receive and share concerns and worries about their lives.

The app, which uses child-focused language and design and is utilised best by tablet or phone, is now used by over 60 organisations in the UK.

Evidence from those already using the app shows it has enabled children to influence changes to the services they receive and even report instances of abuse.

Some children have started communicating with social workers for the first time via the app.

Momo will be rolled out initially to children supported by Quarriers Kinship Care service in Glasgow – a service that provides support to children who are not living with parents but who are cared for by other family members.

The charity’s chief executive Alice Harper said: “We’re excited to be able to give the children and young people we are supporting a new tool which can help them share their experiences about what’s going well or areas that need attention in their lives.

“Quarriers is driven by a determination to bring positive changes in the lives of vulnerable people so we’re delighted that we can now give children and young people another way of speaking-up about the changes they’d like to see to improve their lives.”

Momo director Jill Thorburn said: “It’s fantastic to be working with Quarriers to bring this app to the children and young people they support.

"We’re driven by our vision of ensuring all children’s voices are heard, so we can’t wait to start seeing how we can help children and young people using social care services in the area make a difference in their lives.”