Flock is a refreshing piece about the complex reality of growing up in care

There are over 100,000 children and young people in care in the UK, either with foster parents, in children’s homes or in other settings. Flock, currently playing at the Soho Theater in London before touring the UK, follows the lives of two young people who have spent time in care: Robbie (Jamie Ankrah) and his older sister Cel (Gabriella Leonardi).

The play was written by Lin Coughlan and directed by Jim Pope after three years in development with Raising the Roof, a project that works with young people aged 16 to 25 who have lived in care homes to develop fictional narratives that are shaped by their own lives.

The voices of young people who have lived in nursing homes give this piece its beating heart. And they are also crucial to authentically portraying first-hand care stories that are noticeably missing from mainstream media.

Historically, characters who grew up in the foster care system tend to be portrayed as villains or criminals in popular culture. Think of Paul Spector in “The Fall” or Loki from the Marvel Universe. There are exceptions to many of the heroes in the Marvel comics created by Stan Lee, such as Spider-Man or Daredevil.

Researchers with first-hand knowledge of the foster care system have commented that stigmatizing narratives surrounding “harm” and negative stereotypes associated with the foster care experience coexist with idealized foundling stories of “happily ever after.” are widespread.

Important work is being done to archive the work of creators with experience in the care system and to capture a variety of care stories. However, nuanced work that takes into account the complexities of the care system is rare and public opinion reflects harmful misconceptions about young people living in care.

In England it is estimated that at least one in three children entering care are separated from their siblings. In Flock, Robbie desperately waits for his 18th birthday and hopes that he can live with his sister Cel again.

Even though Robbie and Cel don’t live together, they find ways to socialize – by taking trips to McDonald’s or going bowling. Maintaining relationships with siblings, while sometimes complex, can make a big difference in supporting young people’s sense of belonging, mental health and wellbeing in care.

Cel is one of the few people who shares Robbie’s memories of his grandma and the precious moments with her before he goes into care. There is evidence that sibling separation has long-term effects and is associated with complicated feelings of loss for adults with caregiving experience. However, when planning the living arrangements of young people, sibling reunification or connection is not always a priority.

Young carers and their siblings

Sibling reunification is not always easy. While Cel loves Robbie, she often feels more like his parent, and the responsibility of helping him deal with his feelings while she is still a child weighs heavily on her. Cel could be described as a young caregiver who takes on everyday tasks and personal care for her siblings when adults are unable to do so.

While young caregivers who have spent time caring for a sibling often feel more resourceful, greater responsibility and prioritization of their sibling’s needs can impact their own well-being. Cel dreams of going to university and enjoying the freedom of leaving her responsibilities as an older sister behind, even though she loves Robbie and wants the best for him.

Cel isn’t the only person Robbie can rely on. He also has a strong connection with his best friend Miko (Deshaye Gayle) and somewhat reluctantly meets with his personal advisor, Ms. Bosely (Jennifer Daley). As Robbie’s relationship with Cel comes into jeopardy, these connections become particularly important.

Entering care can destroy more than just sibling relationships. Children often lose contact with family, friends and community and often move away from school or into the neighborhood. Most young people living in care, like Robbie, have had difficult and potentially traumatic early experiences before, during and after moving into care.

After difficult early experiences, some young people may experience changes in their brain and behavior that enable them to survive loss, neglect or abuse. These adaptations may look like increased alertness to danger or an unwillingness to trust others.

While these changes can help children live safely in uncertain circumstances, they can also make it more difficult to maintain close relationships. The negative impact of these understandable adjustments on relationships is known as “social thinning.” At times, Robbie’s distrust is palpable – when he fears that Miko is only his friend out of pity, or when he finds it difficult to accept any support that Bosely offers him. However, we also see that Miko and Bosely’s consistent, warm and understanding support helps Robbie stay connected in his most difficult moments.

This piece represents both the very difficult experiences of young people living in care, as well as genuine moments of joy, strength, hope and connection. Flock offers a refreshing and much-needed story about the complex reality of the lives of young people living in care homes in the UK, putting real voices center stage.

Flock is at the Soho Theater in London until November 2nd and then goes on a UK tour.

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