Leicestershire Cares recognises the importance to support care experienced young people in finding stability in their lives, and we also acknowledge and celebrate their successes in life big and small.
National Care Leavers Week 2020 (#NCLW2020) gave us a platform to bring celebration, campaigning, conversations, learning and showcasing together to highlight the work we do day in day out.
Care Leavers in the workplace report published
Leicestershire Cares published the findings of short research project on the views of care experienced people amongst businesses in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
The findings included:
- Businesses in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland were generally positive and sympathetic towards care leavers.
- Businesses need support to fully understand the challenges that care leavers may face and how that can impact on career prospects.
- A strong willingness amongst local businesses to support care experienced people in the workplace
The report follows on from the work Leicestershire Cares has been delivering with its Promise to Care initiative - a pledge local businesses can sign to say that they will support care experienced people.
Trying something new
Leicestershire Cares took ten care leavers canoeing at Leicester Outdoor Pursuit Centre. For most of them it was the first time they had tried canoeing and was also the first bit of exercise they had done since the Lockdown. The peaceful trip down the river allowed the young people to see their city from an advantage point that they had never experienced before, meet new people and share their experiences.
Having their voice heard
Leicestershire Cares have been working with care experienced young person Casey for the last year, supporting her to share her views on the care system and to speak out about the issues affecting care experienced young people.
During National Care Leavers Week 2020, Casey was interviewed by Rupal Rajani on the Mid Moring show on BBC Radio Leicester.
Casey spoke about the struggles of leaving care and the reduced support that happens at 18. She also spoke about how, with the support of Leicestershire Cares, has got her life back on track and is finding stability. Casey also highlighted that more publicity is needed for the small charities that exist to support care leavers.
Participation, partnership, community and love
The second webinar in our #BBBYouth Welfare series examined issues with the current care system and how we can #BuildBackBetter for care leavers. Taking place in National Care Leavers Week 2020, it was a timely opportunity for stakeholders to consider how some of our most vulnerable young people can be supported to achieve their potential.
The key speakers were:
- Charlotte Robey-Turner, Head of Children and Young People at Leicestershire Cares
- Councillor Sarah Russell, Deputy Mayor for Social Care and Anti-Poverty at Leicester City Council,
- Emily Quinton, Senior Manager - European Events and Communications at Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Casey Armstrong a care experienced young person.
A lively discussion highlighted how important it is that young people are encouraged to share their lived experiences and to have their voices heard.
Celebrating, showcasing and learning
Leicestershire Cares hosted an evening of learning, sharing and showcasing for care leavers, the care community and local business.
Smash Life, two inspirational care experienced advocates, spoke about their lives and how to navigate through the difficulties that are thrown at children and young people in care.
OurTaking Hold of Our Heritage project then held a showcase of work, to highlight the young peoples work into reflecting on positive memories of care.
Launch of new project tackling violence within the care experienced community
Leicestershire Cares are launching a new rapid project investigating the issues around violence within the care experienced community.
The project will take into account care experienced young people (CEYP) adverse experiences and work alongside them to identify their own solutions to avoiding violence and create pathways to recovery and a life free from violence. The young people will produce an advice leaflet drawing on their lived experiences and new knowledge acquired from taking part in the project. The leaflet will be distributed throughout the care experieced community.
The project is funded by the Police & Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire’s Violence Reduction Network and reflects the recommendations of the Youth Violence Commission Report 2020, which promotes a public health approach to violence reduction.
Leicestershire Cares
- Find out about the work we do with care experienced young people: mental wellbeing, employment and training, campaigning for Care Leavers rights, building social connection.
- Sign our Promise to Care
- Hear the voices of care experienced young people in our Podcasts
- For more information about our Voices project contact jacob@leicestershirecares.co.uk