The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has a new campaign. It is called Better Records Together. The ICO wants to make it easier for people to get their care records. The ICO makes sure that organisations look after information properly. This article tells you more about what the ICO is doing.
Care records are important because they can help people understand their past. Care records can include things like:
- Photographs of friends and family
- Memories people might have forgotten
- Reports written by social workers
- Answers to questions about what happened in someone’s life
But sometimes it can be hard for people to get their records. They might face problems like:
- Long delays
- Parts of records being blocked out (this is called ‘redacted’)
- Not getting enough help
The ICO wants to help make this better. They have made a new guide for people with care experience. The guide tells you:
- How to ask for your care records
- What your rights are
- What to expect when you try to get your records
- Where to go if you have a concern or if you need support
The guide is based on what care experienced people said was important to know about
getting their records.
Find out more
Visit the ICO website to find out more about Better Records Together. You can:
- Read and download new guide for people with care experience.
- Watch videos from people who have already got a copy of their care records.
- See the new guidance for organisations. This tells organisations how to respond to requests for care records. And how to do this in a sensitive way.
- Learn more about what the ICO is doing to help people to get their records.
Future Pathways is pleased to support Better Records Together, the latest campaign from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Better Records Together calls for urgent improvements to support people accessing their care records. This campaign follows two years of engagement and research into how services can better support people to access their records and understand their history.
To help tackle issues and encourage systemic change, the ICO has created a suite of practical resources including new standards for organisations, clear guidance for people accessing their records, and videos and case studies amplifying the voices of people with care experience.
These new resources are vital in ensuring that care experienced people can access their records in a supported and sensitive way. We encourage everyone to join the collective effort in empowering people to exercise their rights and access their records.
Standards for Better Records
See the new set of good practice standards created by the ICO for organisations who hold care records. These aim to provide clarity, drive change and raise the standard so that people can access their records in a timely and supported way.
Short guide for people with care experience
This bitesize guide covers all the key information around accessing care records, rights under data protection and how to raise a complaint. The guide reflects what care experienced people said was most important about accessing their records.
Videos and case studies
Gain a deeper understanding of how it feels for people to access their records. These videos and case studies highlight the experience of people who have encountered barriers in accessing their care records.
Future Pathways is pleased to be supporting World Quality Week, running Monday 10 to Friday 14 November 2025.
Created by Chartered Quality Institute, World Quality Week highlights the important role that quality management plays in driving success, innovation and value. This year’s theme is ‘Quality: think differently’ and a chance to share insights, celebrate achievements and inspire new ways of thinking.
Thinking in new and innovative ways is central to Future Pathways’ own approach to quality and improvement. The whole team at Future Pathways is involved in driving change and making improvements. We recognise the ways we each contribute to our collective responsibility to deliver a high-quality service.
We look at data from across the whole service and use a framework to focus on the areas that matter most. By reflecting on our progress, we can see where we need to improve and the action we need to take. We believe in a trauma informed approach to quality. We measure what matters most so we can make a positive, consistent and effective difference in the lives of people we support.
We plan ahead, looking at the resource and guidance that can help us take steps in improving the quality of our work and the service we deliver. And by sharing what we learn and what we are doing differently, we ensure colleagues at all levels are informed and included.
The changes we make are rooted in our learning about what can improve people’s experience of Future Pathways. We are committed to seeking the views of people with lived experience to create meaningful change and shape Future Pathways.
We encourage all services to reflect on quality and improvement. We want to prompt reflection, curiosity and commitment in creating an inclusive approach to measuring quality and making improvements. Check out our resources below to find out more about how a trauma-informed approach to quality can deliver real change in the lives of people you support.
Quality Framework Annual Report Summary
Created in collaboration with colleagues from all areas of Future Pathways, this summary report highlights how a continuous cycle of improvement helps to create consistent, effective support.
Trauma Informed Quality and Improvement
In this resource, you can read more about how we embed the principles of trauma informed practice into our approach to quality and improvement at Future Pathways. Discover how to refine your approach, measure quality, identify actions and evaluate complex approaches.
A Journey of Connection
Our latest impact report tells the story of the difference we make and where we can improve. We highlight core areas of support, including the barriers people face and how services, including our own, can enhance access to support.
Sometimes it can be helpful to spend time away from screens (our phones and computers). In this article, we talk about why this can be useful and give some tips to help you.
This article is to help you:
- Understand more about how phones and computers (devices) can affect us
- Notice if you are using your devices too much
- Take a break from screens
How screens can affect us
Using screens too much can affect our emotions, physical health, social lives and jobs. It can cause problems like:
- Stress and anxiety
- Trouble sleeping
- Damage to our eyes
- Feeling lonely
- Finding it hard to concentrate
- Not being able to complete tasks
Checking in with ourselves
Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if using phones and computers are a problem. But we can start by thinking about if we:
- are spending more time on our screens than usual
- lose track of time when we are on the phone or a computer
- feel we cannot stop using them, even when we notice the time passing
- feel restless or moody when we do not have them
- use the internet to avoid thinking about problems or difficult emotions
- have sore eyes and headaches from using our screens so much
- struggle to get to sleep at night
If we feel like this, we might want to think about having a break from our devices. We call this a ‘digital detox’.
Digital detox
A ‘digital detox’ is sometimes called ‘unplugging’. It is when we choose to reduce the time we spend on our phones or computers. Or it might mean not using them at all. It could be taking time out from one device, like a smartphone, or from all of them. You might choose not to use a device or just not use it for a certain thing, like social media. Having a digital detox can be a chance to reduce stress or focus on social interaction.
Taking control of your screen time
If you’re looking to get control of your screen time, check out these tips.
Set a limit
Set a time limit on your device or app. You can do this with Apple’s Screen Time or Google’s Digital Wellbeing.
Remove devices from some places
Make sure there are rooms or times where you do not use devices. For example, you might not use your phone in your bedroom so you can sleep better.
Do not charge your phone beside your bed
At night, plug your phone into a socket that is not beside your bed. If you need an alarm for the morning, see if you can use an alarm clock instead of your phone.
Take a break
Remember to take a break from screens when you are working or studying. Try to have a break from screens every 30 minutes.
Try new hobbies
Sometimes, we reach for our phones when we are bored. Instead, try a new hobby like reading a book, writing in a journal or drawing.
More information
This article was written in collaboration with First Psychology who are one of our Delivery Partners. They have created a workbook and guide about taking a digital detox.
Here, we talk about men’s mental health. And we look at some of the reasons why men might find it hard to get help. We also look at things that can help men’s mental health.
In this article, we:
- talk about the issues that many men may face
- talk about why it is important to look after your mental health
- offer ways to feel more relaxed and more confident in asking for support
Men can sometimes be told not to be vulnerable, get support or show emotions. This can make it harder for men to feel comfortable about getting support for themselves.
Why is it sometimes hard for boys and men to talk about mental health?
In society, there are many stereotypes. A stereotype is when there is a simplified idea of how a person should be. For example, men are often told to:
- be protectors
- rely on themselves (and not rely on anyone else)
- be rational and not show certain feelings like sadness
This can make it harder for men to tell people when they are having a hard time, especially with
their mental health. But seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It takes strength to tell
someone that you are struggling.
The importance of looking after your mental health
Mental health is as important as physical health. Mental health affects how we:
- make decisions
- build and keep relationships
- see ourselves in the world
When we do not take care of our mental health, it can affect our work, friendships and how we
feel about ourselves.
Instead of dealing with negative feelings and stress, sometimes we bottle up our emotions. But bottling things up can lead to our emotions building up. And we might try to cope in unhealthy ways. For example, some people might use alcohol or tobacco more. Or they might gamble or spend lots of time online.
Looking after yourself and getting support
Sometimes, opening up can feel like one of the hardest things to do. But seeking support means you are taking charge of your wellbeing. It shows you need things to change and that you want things to change. Here are a few examples of things that can support mental health.
Write down your thoughts
Writing or drawing your thoughts can help us to feel more focused. It can help us to understand more about the way we feel. And it can help us to see patterns or habits that we have. Writing or drawing our thoughts can be helpful, even if it is just for five minutes each day.
Keep doing things you enjoy
It is important to keep doing things we enjoy, like hobbies. This can help us to relax and give us a sense of purpose. We could also join a local group and meet people with shared interests.
Get a good night’s sleep
Adults need about eight hours’ sleep a night. But lots of us do not get enough sleep or good quality sleep. To get a good night’s sleep, remember to get outdoors during daylight and avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening. And try to go to bed and wake up at the same times every day.
Reach out
Many men feel lonely. But, we can check in with other people and ask how they are. Andy’s Man Club offers free peer-to-peer support groups for men across the United Kingdom. Groups are both face-to-face and online. They aim to end stigma about men’s mental health through confidential, judgement-free spaces where men can open up.
Find out more at www.andysmanclub.co.uk
More information
This article was written with First Psychology. They are one of our Delivery Partners. First Psychology have created a booklet about men’s mental health. You can view and download a copy below.
Creating Connections is a new resource for people who are interested in developing a relational approach to partnership working.
At Future Pathways, our relational approach is woven throughout our work. It underpins how we support people and how we commission support from Delivery Partners.
In this booklet, we:
- share more about our relational approach to working with other services and what this looks like in practice.
- encourage reflection on how this could be adapted in other service contexts.
- describe our relational approach to evaluating the impact of our partnerships with other services
- explore how taking an outcome mapping approach can enable and support this.
- share what we have learned about the impacts of our relational approach for people with lived experience of in-care abuse and neglect and for other services.
This resource is designed for people who are interested in:
- Developing a relational approach to partnership working over time
- Demonstrating the impact of working relationally with partners
- Learning about how partnership working can contribute to personal outcomes
We have a new guide for organisations and professionals. This tells you more about Future Pathways, who we are and what we do.
We’ve refreshed our leaflet for organisations and professionals. This is for anyone who works in the wider sector, including:
- Services, organisations or individuals who work with people who have experienced abuse and neglect in the Scottish care system
- Services, organisations or professionals who are interested in becoming a Delivery Partner
Our new guide has a range of information including:
- About Future Pathways
- Who can register for support
- What support is available
- How people can register with the service and how you can make a referral
- Delivery Partners
- Our trauma informed approach to working with Delivery Partners
- Further Information about how Future Pathways is delivered
View and download our new guide below.
We have a new booklet with information about how Future Pathways shares your content. For example, through our newsletters, website, reports and social media.
At Future Pathways, sharing the experiences, projects, art or interests of the people we support helps to show the work we do and the impact it can have. It can help people to feel connected to others with shared interests. And it can help people to learn more about what it is like to be supported by Future Pathways.
Things that people share with us include:
- their experience of being supported by Future Pathways
- creative pieces, like drawings, crafts or poems
- stories about things they have done, like raising money for certain causes or doing different activities
Sharing content like this can be a really positive experience.
We want to make sure that you feel comfortable with how we share your content with others. It is important that you have choice in how we do this. For example, you can choose where we share your content and what name we use. We also want to make sure that you are happy to agree to us sharing your content and that you understand what you are agreeing to.
We have created a short booklet that gives you information about this. It gives you answers to common questions about how we might use your content. It also suggests some things to think about before agreeing for us to use it.
You can download the booklet below. If you would like a printed version or if you have any questions, you can:
- email us at engagement@future-pathways.co.uk
- phone us for free on 0808 164 2005 (Monday-Friday, 10am to 4pm)
- write to us at Future Pathways, 40 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh EH2 4RT
Download the booklet here:
We’re delighted to share our latest animation, created in collaboration with Electrify and members of Voices for a Better Future.
Electrify is a strategic, creative communications agency. With Future Pathways, Electrify worked with Voices for a Better Future to gain insights from people with lived experience of abuse in care to develop this animation. We aimed to authentically convey what Future Pathways does, who we are for and the support we offer.
Input from members of Voices for a Better Future was crucial to this work. They helped us to show the perspective of someone on a journey of support, taking us on the path from before to during and after support. As such, we highlight milestones of support, how we work with Delivery Partners, the impact support can have, and the reassurance of Future Pathways’ presence throughout the support journey.
The animation shows how each individual is at the heart of support, taking their own pathway to a positive future. We encourage anyone who has experienced abuse and neglect in the Scottish care system to reach out to Future Pathways.
Phone us for free on 0808 164 2005 or email us at registration@future-pathways.co.uk
About Voices for a Better Future
Voices for a Better Future brings together people who experienced abuse or neglect while they were children in the Scottish care system. Members of the group want to make a difference. They want to help improve services and support for others. They make sure that the views of people supported by Future Pathways are considered in decisions about the service. You can find out more about Voices for a Better Future here.
Electrify tells us more about their work
This information and guidance has been produced by the members of Voices for a Better Future. It is to help anyone who is trying to access their records from when they were in care as a child.
Voices for a Better Future is a lived experience voice group. It brings together people who experienced abuse or neglect while they were children in the Scottish care system. Members of the group want to make a difference. They want to help improve services and support for others.
The information is available as a booklet and as an Easy Read version too.