About us
Helping children rediscover childhood.
At Starling Support & Care Services, we believe that many children who experience crisis have spent much of their lives surviving rather than simply being children. While we cannot change a child's past, we believe we can influence what comes next.
Our approach
Opportunities to experience safety, success, enjoyment and achievement.
Many of the children we support have experienced significant adversity - abuse, neglect, loss, exploitation, family breakdown, disrupted education and repeated placement moves. These experiences can affect how a young person sees themselves, other people and the world around them.
Our crisis intervention model is built around creating opportunities for children to experience things many young people may never have had - learning to cook a favourite meal, walking in the countryside, visiting the coast, caring for animals, trying paddleboarding, or simply enjoying a relaxed evening around a campfire.
These are not rewards or entertainment alone. They are carefully planned opportunities to promote emotional wellbeing, develop life skills, increase confidence and help young people discover interests, talents and strengths that may have been hidden beneath years of adversity.
Every positive experience helps a young person build evidence that the world can be safe, that adults can be trusted and that they are capable of succeeding. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to create positive memories that sit alongside the difficult ones.
We believe behaviour is communication. Rather than asking “what is wrong with you?”, we ask “what has happened to you?”
Our values
Everything we do is guided by six core values.
Safety
Children should feel physically and emotionally safe.
Respect
Every child deserves dignity and compassion.
Relationships
Positive relationships create positive outcomes.
Opportunity
Every child deserves the chance to succeed.
Integrity
We work honestly, transparently and professionally.
Hope
Crisis does not define a child's future.
Our commitment
Calm during crisis.
Children experiencing instability need adults who are consistent, compassionate and hopeful. Our aim is to provide a safe environment, meaningful activity and positive relationships that help children regain stability while professionals plan the next stage of their journey.
Ultimately, we want children to leave Starling with more than a crisis safely managed, with new skills, positive memories, healthier relationships and a stronger belief in their own potential.