My Belonging Map

A child centred direct work resource designed to explore identity, relationships, strengths, belonging and the people and places that help a child feel connected.

My Belonging Map creates space for children to explore what belonging means to them through drawing, writing and conversation. Rather than defining belonging for the child, the prompts help practitioners remain curious about the people, places, experiences and strengths that matter to them, including where belonging may feel more complicated or uncertain.

The resource includes:

• My Belonging Map A4 printable activity sheet
• Professional guidance with ideas for using the resource
• Printable PDF for repeated use within your own professional practice

Using the resource

Children can draw, write or talk through the different areas at their own pace, allowing conversations to develop around what feels meaningful to them. It can support direct work, relationship building, assessment, life story work and wellbeing conversations.

It may be useful across social work, family support, education, pastoral support, foster care, residential care and therapeutic settings.

Professional guidance

My Belonging Map is intended to support exploration and conversation rather than function as a diagnostic or standalone assessment tool. Professional judgement should guide how it is introduced and used with each child.

Belonging can look different for every child. The map provides a starting point for discovering what it looks and feels like for them.