SpeakOut WHO CARES? SCOTLAND MAGAZINE
AUTUMN 2020
10 QUESTIONS with Jacqueline To celebrate Tracy Beaker’s return to TV, WC?S members were given the chance to ask the author 10 questions.
Wilson
Turn to P26 to hear her answers.
PLUS!
QUIZ PAGES, SO JUNIOR, WHAT SUMMER CAMP MEANS TO ME AND TAKE PART IN THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL SURVEY W H O CMEMBERSHIP A R E S? S COT LA N D 1
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
Welcome to the latest is s
... Check out what’s inside Dear Readers,
W
e hope you’ve all been coping with the new normal. It’s been so nice pulling this issue together and finding out what some of you have been up to. Everyone here at Who Cares? Scotland is really missing face to face time with our members! But we understand, as I hope all of you do, that as hard as it is, we’ve got to keep managing the best we can and sticking to the restrictions because they are there to keep us all safe. Hopefully, SpeakOut continues to bring you a bit of light relief and connection to the Care Experienced community throughout this strange time. Here’s what we’ve got for you this issue: An exclusive members Q&A with Jacqueline Wilson, author of the Tracy Beaker novels, p26. A nostalgic look back to every summer camp we’ve had and why they mean so much, p8-13. One of our members, David, talks to us about the very special Red Thistle Farm that he runs with his family in France, p16-17. In case you’ve missed any of our latest announcements, catch up with everything WC?S related in Newsflash, p18-19. Meet some of the people who help WC?S do what it does - Liz the volunteer (p15), Trevor the Board member (p22) and Marissa, one of your representatives (p23). People really do make WC?S. Plus so much more! We hope you enjoy this issue. See you next time.
The SpeakOut Editorial Team x
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16-17
Inside this issue
2-3
Welcome Pages
LIFESTYLE 4 5 6 7 8-9 10-13 14 15 16-17
Celebrating You What’s Hot & What’s Not Life in Lockdown My Role as a First Responder What Summer Camp Means to Me Summer Camp Timeline Volunteering in WC?S Magical Liz Red Thistle Farm
NEWS & EVENTS 18-19 Newsflash 20 Meet PC Daly 21 Take Part in this Year’s Annual Membership Survey 22 Meet Your Board Members 23 The Annual Participation Programme 24 Meet Your Representatives 25 NRB Update
ENTERTAINMENT 26 10 Questions with Jacqueline Wilson 27 Musicares 28-29 Quiz Pages
SO Junior 24 2
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30-31 SO Junior 32 Contact Page
sue of SpeakOut
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
Meet the Editorial Team
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If you’d like your own copy of SpeakOut posted to you, then make sure you sign up as a Family Member by visiting www.whocaresscotland.org Did you know? We send out a monthly e-bulletin which is jam packed with details of what’s going on at Who Cares? Scotland and how you can get involved. If you’re not currently receiving it, please contact membership@ whocaresscotland.org and we’ll get your email added.
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CelebratingYou! NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
Celebrating you is a space for you guys to tell us what you’ve been gett ing up to and to share anything you proud of. We love getting stuff from might be really you, so please send in your poems, stori es, pictures, jokes or tell us about som done, your favourite hobby or a new ething you’ve pet, and we’ll include it in the next issue of SpeakOut. membership@whocare
sscotl
and.org – 40 Wellington Stree t, Glasgow, G2 6HJ
Gabby’s Football
Dream Team! O
ne day during lockdown I was a bit bored and I started speaking to a few of my friends about football. I have always loved football but not always had much chance to play and it turned out my friends felt the same, we were all keen to play but had had similar bad experiences of not being picked, feeling excluded and not fitting in. So, we decided to start out own team, an inclusive team where young people with care experience or disabilities felt welcome no matter what level of ability they have. We started off having a kickabout outdoors one night a week. We had about 5 players initially and advertised for a few more and encouraged people to bring along their friends. As more people came we started meeting up more often, we now train 3 times a week and I plan the training sessions. I have also designed a kit and we are hoping to get a local sponsor so we can buy the strips and hopefully in the future we’ll actually be able to play against other teams in the area. I feel really excited on the days that we have training and I always look forward to it. The feedback from the team has been really good and everyone has a great time playing football together!
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C?S member, Bob, wrote a poem to mark this year’s Pride festival – a celebration of LGBTQ+ equality. He dedicated his poem to the LGBTQ+ members of the Who Cares? Scotland Family.
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PrBiobde Hamilton
Love is love, Enough is enough, Be with who makes you happy, Do not worry, Laugh as much as you smile, Go that extra mile, Be yourself, Don’t hide, I wish everyone a happy Pride.
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
What’s HOT
NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS
& What’s NOT
H
i my name is John, I’m going to be 18 in November. One of my favourite things to do is gaming. I really enjoy playing racing games as my other passion in life is cars. The game I’m playing most at the moment is called Burnout Paradise. It’s a PS4 game that came out in 2008 but I’ve been playing a lot over the last couple of years. The reason I love this game is that you can do races and collect cars, the cars you can collect are amazing and there are loads of different kinds, I particularly like the sports cars. You win races and collect points, I’m getting pretty good at it. It’s set in a big city and If you don’t want to compete in races you can just drive about, and sometimes I do this as well. I recently got my provisional license and I’m hoping to start driving lessons soon. I have to remember that it’s not practice for driving in real life as it’s too crazy and there can be lots of crashes! The next new game I’m looking forward to getting is called Tony Hawk Pro Skater, it looks quite cool and it looks like it would be a fun game to play.
k luc od go d an hn Jo ew vi re is th r fo s k an Th for starting college this autumn !
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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE
SpeakOut OutMagazine Magazine| |AUTUMN SUMMER SUMMER2020 2019 Speak
. . . N I E F LI
LOCK DOWN
L
ockdown was hard, tedious and at times boring! Not in North Lanarkshire though! We had the amazing Laura and Callum, our local Development Officers, who were our Taskmasters helping us fight the boredom and engaging our creativity and imagination! What on earth is Taskmaster I hear you ask? Let me fill you in‌ Taskmaster was a fun weekly activity where creative challenges were set each week by the taskmasters and the North Lanarkshire team had a week to prepare for each task.
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The tasks could be anything from designing your own flag using the favourite food of the task masters, to finding an imaginative mode of transport around your home or even creating a 30 second movie using your pets. Each week we would record ourselves carrying out the task or take pictures of our creations and send them in for judging! Taskmaster was a playful and entertaining way to spend some of our time in lockdown. It brought a little bit of fun and togetherness to a very strange time in everyone’s new home working lives. The hard work that Laura and Callum put into creating something fun and special for the team was so appreciated. They made a time of uncertainty and stress a little bit easier and happier and made working from home SO MUCH FUN! Special thanks to Laura KellyCampbell, Callum Holt and the National Connection Fund for our fun lockdown times!
NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS
SUMMER 2019 2020 Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN
My Role as a First Responder Emma McQueen , WC?S Training & Education Officer
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fter years working to support Care Experienced people, I started my journey with Who Cares? Scotland as an advocate back in 2017. Now I am a Training & Education Officer, which involves working closely with your Corporate Parents to make sure they understand their duties and to ensure that they support you correctly. I love my job and I love being part of the WC?S family! This year I took on a very different role, I became a First Responder. In March 2020, the whole world went into lockdown due to COVID-19. It was a scary and tense time with people not knowing what the new reality looked like or when we would get back to “normal”. No one could go to school, college, or work – unless you were a key worker. You could not leave your house unless it was for essential shopping or your daily walk! People lost their jobs and their businesses, and the NHS was under a lot of pressure to keep us safe and healthy meaning that essential services such as mental health services were impacted. At Who Cares? Scotland, we understood immediately the impact the new reality would have on the Care Experienced community. We knew we needed to take immediate action to ensure our community was safe, healthy, and supported. With funding from the Scottish Government, we opened our first ever helpline. Members of the Care Experienced community could call us for advice if they were struggling financially for food and heating or if they were struggling with their mental health and needed a little bit of comfort and assistance. We were able to offer financial assistance to those who were struggling during a time of crisis. We were able to provide this service because members like you unanimously voted to amend our constitution to enable us to do so Many callers had lost their job due to COVID-19 and many others were having issues with Universal Credit. The
money sent to the Care Experienced people who called, enabled them to fill their fridges and heat their homes. Being a First Responder also meant stepping once again into my role as an advocate. Every call was slightly different and different people needed me to help with different issues. Some wanted me to speak with their social worker and advocate on their behalf, others required help in speaking to companies they owed bills to, and many needed me to locate and contact food and energy banks for them. On the line, we had numerous callers who were also calling for emotional support due to the isolation experienced throughout lockdown. Many mental health services were not available, and people were struggling with their emotional and mental wellbeing during this hard time. Some callers required longer term support around them and so I would ask WC?S advocacy workers and social work to help them going forward. Being a First Responder was an honour and a humbling experience. I am relieved that we were able to be there for our members and the wider community. Following on from the positive feedback on our helpline, it is evident that a dedicated phone line is a valued source of connection for our community, which is why I’m really happy Who Cares? Scotland has evolved the helpline into our new Advice and Support line for Care Experienced people of any age across Scotland (and people who may be alongside them). The Advice & Support Line is open 12 noon to 4pm from Monday to Friday. We can be contacted by phoning 0330 107 7540, emailing help@whocaresscotland.org or texting 0775 604 7389.
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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE
OutMagazine Magazine| |AUTUMN SUMMER2020 2019 Speak SpeakOut
WHAT SUMMER CAMP MEANS TO ME T
his year, for the first time since 2014, we were unable to hold our annual Summer Camp due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. This was disappointing news for Who Cares? Scotland Members and staff. July just didn’t feel the same without a visit to Struan!
Natasha, 16 “Camp is like my second home. It’s where we all go to see our Who Cares family. For some of us it’s the only time we see them. Some of the best memories we make are made in that field that we all know and love. Sing song at night and activities during the day are just the small things that make it amazing. Not having camp has been one of my biggest losses this year. It’s like not getting my holiday and my time away from the real world. Camp for many of us is an escape. An escape from anything going on in our lives. We get to just leave it all behind for those great 3 days and make the most magical memories. I hope that next year we can all be reunited, sing our songs together and drink hot chocolate. But most importantly I want to be reunited with the family that sadly I won’t get to see this year. All I can say is thank you to WC?S for letting me make those memories. I will cherish them forever and I can’t wait to make more next year!”
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Usually, the Autumn issue of SpeakOut is a chance for us to reminisce over this year’s crazy camp stories and share all our photos. So to fill the glaringly empty space in this issue, we asked Campers and Crew to share their stories of camps gone by and tell us what Summer Camp really means to them!
Chloe H, 17 “My first year at camp was the most magical moment of my life, I never thought I could feel so at home with so many lovely people. When people ask me what I miss most, I always say home. It’s not a lie. Until I walk off the sweet smell of nostalgia, these feet of mine will always yearn to return to this special place each year. When I came back for the second year, that feeling flooded back, actually making me quite emotional at the fact we had reunited once again as a big massive family. We got to welcome new people, make new friends, make people feel at home and we got to reunite with friends that stay at the other end of the country! Thank gosh for social media! What would us campers do without it? See you all next year! From Bin Lady! Xx
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I’d also like to take this opportunity to remember our friend Chloe Brown (pictured). Chloe passed away on the 18th December last year. Chloe went to camp and was a great WC?S family member and we miss her so very much.”
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SUMMER 2019 Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
Jemma, First Aider & Camp Postie “Even before I started working for Who Cares? Scotland I had heard about summer camp. I knew it was something I wanted to be part of and that it would be something I would love. It was discussed a lot during my recruitment so when the time came to sign up for camp I jumped at the chance. That first camp in 2016, which was my first experience of camping, was the best mixture of sleep deprived hilarity and heart felt fun! I was hooked from day one. Here began my commitment to camp and our campers. I’ve had some of my best moments standing in that field looking around me thinking, this is great. Highlights for me include being part of the first aid team, eating green beans as I walk around the camp
site, getting rivered and becoming the camp Postie. The best part is spending uninterrupted time with our members, my colleagues and friends having fun, eating great food and being together. There’s been times when I could have done with more sleep and for the midges to stop eating me but I wouldn’t change any of it. They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, I think summer camp is the heart of Who Cares? Scotland. Here I get a tangible sense of the family we talk about, the WC?S family made up of our members, our volunteers and our staff team. I’m sad to have missed camp this year, my trusty bumbags and I are waiting to return in 2021. Until then please all stay safe and connected. Love Jemma X.”
My First Camp - Dean , 16
To officially start camp we went into the mess tent and were welcomed and introduced to the camp chief. Our chief was a lady called Caroline. One of the greatest camp rules is, if a crew member does something that you don’t like then you get to present a case of why they should be dunked in the river. Where else would you get to do that!? My number one favourite thing about camp is the people. We could be in the worst campsite and have the worst weather but we would still have fun. Whilst at camp we had an opportunity to go rivertubing. We drove for half an hour to get to the activity centre, got given wetsuits then off we went. We started with jumping off a cliff then got on our tubes and started floating away down the river. We sang, we fell off our rings, we chanted and we had fun. The challenge whilst floating down the river was to stand up on our rings. I tried but fell a lot. It was really fun and I made more friends. There are 2 things I didn’t like about camp, the toilets and the end. Firstly the toilets are just eww and secondly the end of camp is bad because of how sad it is. I hated having to say goodbye to all these amazing people that I had met. I was lucky to be able to keep in contact with some of them. After camp, I realised something. I realised that people do care and that I will always have people to talk to no matter what. After camp, I felt different, I felt better about who I was and not only did I feel better about sharing that part of my identity. I owned it.”
“After a lot of waiting the day rolled around and it was time to go to camp. When I arrived I was unsure of what to expect but as soon as I stepped foot on the campsite I was welcomed like an old friend and shown to my tent. I was sharing my tent with one of the boys I had travelled down with so it wasn’t like I didn’t know anyone. We put our stuff in the tent and organised our sleeping bags then went to explore. One of the crew members I met first was Euan. I will always remember this moment because he made me feel something I hadn’t felt in a while. He made me feel normal. He didn’t ask stupid questions about me being in care, he spoke to me like I was part of a family and in that moment I realised I was family. I may not have been related to him but I was family. I realised all these people at camp were all the same, we had something in common and we owned it.
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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE
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2014
2016
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2017
CONTINUES OVERLEAF
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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE
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2017 CONTINUED
2019
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2018
RS FINGE ED CROSSHE FOR T OF N RETURN 2021! I CAMP
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Volunteering NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
in Who Cares? Scotland Timeline & History of the volunteer programme:
› May 2016 – The volunteering programme first started in Renfrewshire with the Communities that Care project. There was a collective understanding that volunteers would bring added value and impact to our members and the work of WC?S. › October 2016 – first ever volunteer led event Cares Got Talent which paved the way as evidence of volunteers’ passion to get involved in the wider work of WC?S and so progression was made to ensure volunteers played a role in local and national events. › 2017 – The impact and success of volunteering in Renfrewshire was beginning to be recognised and so progression was made to expand volunteering to Ayrshire and Inverclyde.
› 2018 – We started delivering regular inputs and stalls to colleges and universities in Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and Inverclyde along with volunteers. This led to increased volunteer recruitment, further influencing opportunities and relationship building within local communities. › 2018 – Volunteers supported their first Kiltwalk and Summer Camp. Volunteering expanded to East Renfrewshire in March 2018 and South Lanarkshire in September 2018. › 2019 – Volunteers developed and led on delivering training sessions around the STV Who Cares documentary to professionals, students and local communities. Volunteering expanded to Clackmannanshire in January
Why is volunteering so important to Who Cares? Scotland? Volunteers contribute so much to the work we do at Who Cares? Scotland, as they come from a wide range of educational, personal and employment backgrounds and share their skills and experience with our staff and Care Experienced people. Volunteers are community champions who not only support participation groups and events, but also help fundraise, influence and take learnings about Care Experience back into the community and to their networks. Volunteers help to extend our reach and ensure society becomes more respectful and understanding of our Care Experienced people. Many of our 14
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volunteers are Care Experienced and members of WC?S too. We currently have volunteers in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Clackmannanshire and Ayrshire. Volunteer roles include: Participation Support, Community Schools, Fundraising, Events and Influencing. Although we are not currently recruiting due to Covid-19 restrictions, if you would like to know more about Volunteering at Who Cares? Scotland please email us at volunteering@whocaresscotland. org and we’ll gladly answer any questions!
2019. WC?S achieved the Volunteer Friendly Award. Volunteering expanded to North Lanarkshire in November 2019. › 2020 – Volunteering expanded to Glasgow and Fundraising. Volunteers supported the first ever WC?S Digital Festival.
Did you know? •
• •
•
Who Cares? Scotland started as a voluntary organisation in 1978 and stayed that way until 1988, with supportive adults such as social workers giving up their time to make sure Care Experienced people could be heard. Our volunteers have contributed over 6990 hours since the volunteer programme began in May 2016! 96% of volunteers we surveyed would recommend volunteering with WC?S to a friend/family (WC?S volunteer survey 2020) 89% of volunteers we surveyed felt they were able to develop their skills through their volunteer role (WC?S volunteer survey 2020)
NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
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t is very nearly a year since I went to meet Yvonne and Lynsey for a chat about joining Who Cares? Scotland as a volunteer. My training was very enjoyable and interesting. I must admit when it was first suggested that I join the Wee Diamonds group, I was quite unsure as I never think of myself as at all crafty. However, from week one it was just great. The kids were lovely, and the crafts were easy to be involved with. I was surprised at how direct the kids were from day one. At the end of my first day, I was asked ‘how did you get on? I replied ’I really liked it, how do you think I did?’ Their answer was ‘I think you did good’. ...phew! I was made to feel welcome by the WC?S Renfrewshire team, it quickly became part of my life and I liked the honesty and warmth from the kids. I already have a few memories that will stay with me forever. One is when one girl said to her friend when I was helping decorate their umbrella ‘she’s a good drawer her’ I nearly expired with joy and seriously considered getting that embroidered on a cushion. For my help I was given a square of chocolate from both girls - wasn’t that so kind? Then there was the Christmas party, all the kids looked lovely and there was such a lot of love in the room. It was an emotional night and such a privilege to be part of it. Lastly, just after the Christmas break, on our return to the Wee Diamonds I was greeted by a cannonball at full pelt who gave me an enormous hug and said ‘I missed you’. It’s an amazing group to be part of. My other volunteering has been at Paisley Grammar school, usually with Lynsey. We go to the lunchtime drop in hub and see who turns up. This too has been enjoyable, sometimes only one or two young people turn up and sometimes there are more. There have been some interesting and open conversations.
During lockdown, we have all had to adapt, but I have really enjoyed ‘zoom’ time. I took part in the Digital festival - I read some short stories that were put out online for anyone who wanted to listen. This grew into me reading - while filming myself - the Harry Potter books ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’ and ‘Chamber of Secrets’ a chapter at a time and them being put on Facebook for anyone who wants to listen. I had never read ‘Harry’ before, nothing prepared me for how good they were....and how hard some of the words were for a muggle like me. During lockdown, one of my favourite things has been fellow volunteer Lee’s craft masteclass on a Thursday. I’ve learnt lots, I’ve bought craft things and the young people who have joined have been so keen and enthusiastic, it is a joy to watch them. It has been just amazing to be part of it all and to have heard one person say it was helping them, made it all worthwhile. It’s just lovely to know that in a tiny way, I’m doing something that helps, when you add us all up together, it’s a powerful, magical force supporting Care Experienced people.
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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
Red Thistle Fa David Anderson
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i, my name is David, I am a WC?S member and part of the National Representative Body – The Collective. Today I’d like to talk about success. Why? Because often it seems as if the words used to describe and talk about people who are or have experienced care are associated with negative connotations. Whilst it is right that we use words such as trauma to inform people of what is or has been experienced, there are too many positive stories that go untold. I firmly believe that we are more than the prevailing narrative. We all have it in us to enjoy success. Sometimes, we need support to get there, but always, always, it is the individual who makes it happen. Ultimately, it will be you who makes the choices to arrive at that success!
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Sometimes, when you have been told that you are ‘problematic’, ‘difficult’, ‘can’t manage your behaviour’, you can take this on (sometimes even without thinking) and carry it into your teenage and adult life. I did. It took me some time (too long) to realise that I wasn’t that difficult kid I was told about and I was actually someone who could experience all the successes and failures of life just as anyone else could. We are not defined by others (or the words in any report). Once we understand what drives our behaviour, we can alter our actions to give us a better chance of realising our dreams and wishes. That doesn’t mean to say
it is easy or that you will always arrive at where you want to be, but it will certainly increase the chance that you will, and you’ll certainly feel better about yourself for trying. I have experience of being looked after at home, informal kinship care, private children’s homes, residential centres, secure care, homelessness, and prison. I have also worked in a homeless hostel, community and residential settings for young people experiencing care, as a social worker and taught social care students. The journey towards my successes has not always been easy, but it has certainly been worthwhile. The learning and personal development I have achieved is possible for everyone. I am 100% sure that each and every young person can go on to achieve success in whichever roles they inhabit if they are given the right support to see themselves as good, worthy, and capable individuals. Whatever it is, from roller-skating to writing, gardening to geometry,
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Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
arm cooking to childcare, success is attainable for all of us. Recently, I have opened a type of educational farm in France. Soon after we met, my wife and I realised that we had a shared passion for working with people, animals and nature. We decided to create a place people could come and spend time with the animals who stay with us - we have, horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs, quails and plan to get more! Our home is where we want to work. We have two small children who help us and we have recently opened
our doors to a young person who now lives with us. We offer animal mediation, equi-therapy, support with education, language courses and more. It is all based on the premise that the mixture of people, animals, nature in this beautiful place can create a positive time for those who come to experience it. And of course, love, equality and respect are central to everything we do! Our project is called ‘Les Chemins de Run Askol’, which basically means - The pathways of red thistle farm. If there is one thing I have learnt and had reinforced by my time volunteering with WC?S, it is that if you do things with love then you usually feel good, and if you find something you love to do then that becomes, not just a job, but a real pleasure to do. So, even though my life is often full of (animal) poo, I have never been happier! I encourage everyone
to try and think of what it is that makes them happy and then try to make that the thing they do. Whatever it is you do, try to do it with love in your heart – we reap the benefits if we do. Finally, we have always planned to offer a free space to someone from the WC?S community, so watch this space for info…
! r u o j n Bo
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H H H NEWS & EVENTS
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NEWSFLASH
Flash to our members. However, we know that not very month we send out a digital newsletter called News to the internet. That’s why we have decided to start all of our members will have an email account or access couple of months and sharing them again, here in including a roundup of important headlines from the last SpeakOut, so you don’t miss out! ng email address, just email membership@ If you haven’t been receiving NewsFlash but have a worki whocaresscotland.org and we’ll update your details.
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Landmark Changes for Sibling Rights The Children (Scotland) Bill was passed into law in August in the Scottish Parliament. This new law includes some landmark legal protections for relationships between brothers and sisters in care and covers a range of other important issues relating to family law (including new rights in relation to Contact and Residence Orders). Some of you contributed to this process by sharing your views and experiences. Without you, this new legislation wouldn’t have happened. You can find out more by visiting this page on our website. https://www.whocaresscotland.org/who-we-are/ blog/influencing-the-children-scotland-bill/
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Consultation on Care Experienced Representation in the Media In August, some of our members joined us in talking to Emma Reeves -the writer of the TV adaptation of My Mum Tracy Beaker- continuing conversations we have had in the past about the portrayals of Care Experienced people in media. Discussions revolved around the return of Tracy Beaker to CBBC screens and ensuring more accurate and fair representation of Care Experienced lives, particularly Care Experienced parents. We look forward to continuing involvement in this type of consultation so that Care Experienced people can see their input realised. You can find out more about our Who We Are campaign by visiting our website. https://www.whocaresscotland.org/what-we-do/ campaigns/whoweare/
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Advice and Support Line On Monday 13th July, we launched our new Advice and Support Line. The Covid-19 helpline we maintained during the lockdown period showed us the necessity of a similar service on a more constant basis. Our new helpline is this evolution and is open to all Care Experienced people across Scotland. This number 0330 107 7540, alongside the help@whocaresscotland.org email address will be held by the Lifelong Opportunities Team. They will provide support on areas such as finance, budgeting, education, employment and more from 12-4pm every working day. If mobile phone credit is a problem you can even text us on 0775 604 7389 and we will call you back.
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Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
HH H H H NEWS & EVENTS
Our New National Office
As of July 1st we officially moved from Oswald Street to our new address at 40 Wellington Street in Glasgow. We are confident the new space will better meet our needs and provide an atmosphere in line with our identity as an organisation. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we aren’t fully functioning out of the new office but we look forward to welcoming you to the new space once we are able so you can help us truly make it our own. Look out for updates on our social media about when we can open our doors. In the meantime, check out these photos of how the new place is shaping up.
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VIRTUAL KILTWALKS The Kiltwalk has been a huge recurring event for Who Cares? Scotland – both for Fundraising and also because of the fun many of us have together marching through various cities for a great cause. In July, the Kiltwalk took place virtually for the first time ever. The isolated setting meant that people had the chance to get creative and think of different ways to get active, it could be a walk as normal or something like running round the back garden – fundraisers could get involved in any way they wanted. Our Fundraising Manager Gavin walked twenty miles, some of it in the rain. One of our members, Bobby Jo walked eleven miles and one of our Board of Directors did essentially a full marathon, walking a massive 24 miles. Many more of our staff and members put on their hiking boots for us. Thanks to everyone’s efforts and the 100% top-up by Sir Tom Hunter a huge £18,455.38 was raised for Care Experienced people across that weekend alone. Due to its success, another Virtual Kiltwalk took place over the weekend of the 11th-13th September. This time we Jeanette, Tony, Carly and Rachel took part to raise money for us. A big thank you to everyone for all their hard work and donations on behalf of Who Cares? Scotland.
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Interim CEO – Claudia Macdonald “From Monday 31st August, I have been trusted with leading our great organisation as Interim Chief Executive. As we have prepared over the past few months to share our heartfelt farewells and thanks to Duncan, we all knew this meant entering a period of change too. I know change can feel unsettling, even more so as we navigate a global pandemic. My priority therefore for this interim period is to make sure our staff feel as stable, sure and
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motivated as possible, so they can continue to do their very best for you, our members. Whilst stepping temporarily into the shoes Duncan has left behind would be daunting for many, I don’t feel that way. I know this organisation inside out, have played a huge part in the architecture behind the scenes to ‘run the place’. Most importantly though, I love our organisation and will do anything to take care of it, our people and our members.”
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Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
Meet PC Daly W
ho Cares? Scotland constantly strive to better the relationships between the Care Experienced community and their Corporate Parents. Awareness raising, training and open communication is at the heart of moving forward positively with your Corporate Parents. Over the last while, we have been working hard with Police Scotland to break down barriers and build
lasting relationships between the Care Experienced community and Officers. Our new feature titled; ‘Meet your local Officer’, gives space for passionate Officers who we believe champion the Care Experienced community, a place to introduce themselves and show how they are changing the culture within their organisation.
In the summer of 2011, I worked as a Camp Councillor in New York, USA, supporting Care Experienced children and young people who came from a multitude of care settings. This was a truly humbling experience. This was the first time I understood what the Care Experienced journey entails and the barriers and challenges the Care Experienced community faces. The children and young people I worked with had the most amazing energy and enthusiasm. Many of the young people I worked with however, believed that due to their Care Experience their life opportunities were limited. I wanted to be the change in a care system where they felt restricted and failed. I could see how amazing their lives could be if they had the correct support from the care system. I wanted to help them see the endless opportunities that awaited them. The children and young people I worked with during my time in America are the reason I am a Police Officer today. I am a Corporate Parent and I am passionate about helping to create a more positive relationship between Police Scotland and the Care Experienced community. I think it is vital for Care Experienced individuals to see that Police Scotland care. We want to be the best Corporate Parents we can be by not only fulfilling our duties but by showing genuine care and concern. We are here when you need advice and here to lend you an ear when you are in need. Communication is key – So let’s chat.
PC Daly, East Kilbride If you have a question for or would like to get in touch with your local Police Officer please email our Corporate Parenting Team – corporateparenting@whocaresscotland.org
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NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
TAKE PART IN THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SURVEY W
ho Cares? Scotland’s Annual Membership Survey was launched on the 31st of August. We currently have over 2,800 members and want to hear from as many of you as possible. Your feedback will help us to build on what we’re doing well at the moment and get better in areas you’d like us to improve. The survey is completely anonymous and should only take about 15 minutes to complete.
• We’ll share the overall results with members in early 2021. • We may also include some comments and figures from the survey in our reports to funders and materials for Care Experienced people who want to find out about Who Cares? Scotland membership.
The survey will stay open until Friday 16th October.
You can find the survey here https://tinyurl.com/ whocares-membership2020 If you need support to complete this survey, your Who Cares? Scotland worker will be able to help. Otherwise please contact membership@whocaresscotland.org or call 0141 226 4441.
What happens with the survey results? • Once we’ve gathered all the survey results, we’ll share them with our staff so that they can ensure members’ views are included in their plans for 2021 and beyond. The survey will help them work out what areas to focus their efforts on.
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NEWS & EVENTS
Meet Your Board Members H
i, I’m Trevor, and I joined the Board in February 2020. I really look forward to getting to know more of you when this Coronavirus is all over and we can meet up properly. I’m really keen to understand what is important to you, what you want from the Board, and how I can help. I am a father of three children (as well as a Granda, but I’m not dead old, honest!) with 2 grown up sons (Michael and Gavin) and a teenage daughter, Alanna. In my business life I worked across Scotland and other parts of the UK at a senior executive level, where I had responsibility and accountability for defining the vision, the strategic direction, the people, sales, financial performance, and regulatory compliance of a large insurance business. When I took early retirement in 2019 I decided I was still too young to slip into a dull retirement, so becoming part of the Board at a charity I care passionately about seemed a good way to use my time and my skills. Whilst I’m not personally Care Experienced, my daughter is, and that is one of the reasons I care so much about WC?S. We adopted Alanna 10 years ago after a lengthy process with Social Work. We are fiercely proud of her and she is loved in the same way as her 2 older brothers. Alanna is a WC?S Member, and my wife Zoey works in the Paisley office, so you could say we’ve become a Who Cares? Scotland family! You may even remember Alanna as she spoke on stage at the 2019 Love Rally. That was a very emotional moment for me, as she openly spoke about love in her lifelong, adoptive family. But I’m very aware that so much more needs to be done until all Care Experienced people feel that same level of equality, respect, and especially love. That’s why I want to make a difference by being on the Board. There are a number of new members
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on the Board and I’m loving being one of them. We have complimentary skills and work well together, and what I hopefully bring is my business experience together with time, energy and a sense of humour. It is a particularly busy time for the Board at the moment as we’re working hard to recruit the new CEO to replace Duncan, and we’re determined to find someone with the skills, experience and passion that our members deserve. I’m also a registered volunteer, driving the WC?S minibus before Covid. I’ve done the Kiltwalk 3 times, this year raising £1500, and attended various WC?S events. When I’m not being a Board Member, Dad or Volunteer, (and when I’ve done all my chores like the housework!) I love getting out on my motorbike to
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
Trevor Hillman
travel around Scotland and meet up with all my biker buddies. I love to chat, so please don’t be shy and come up and say hello when we get the chance to meet.
With Love
Trev
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
The Annual Participation Programme W
e have recently launched The Annual Participation Programme. This programme of opportunities will help us plan ahead for participation activity throughout the coming year, and it will allow you, our members, to choose how you get involved. The Programme Calendar will be refreshed annually and will present the themes for participation across the year ahead. Due to the impact of Covid-19, we have reduced the number of themes for the next year to just 3 important themes, allowing members time to really engage and share their views with us. Themes 2020-21 1. Child and Human Rights: August – October 2. COVID-19 Recovery: October – December 3. Realising The Promise: December – February Why Child and Human Rights? Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world simply because we are human. They apply regardless of where you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your life. They should never be taken away, although they can sometimes be restricted – for example, if a person breaks the law. It’s an exciting time for rights in Scotland. The law is changing to help better protect your rights. Scotland is in a unique position
to introduce legal protections of children’s rights in Scots Law and this process is called ‘incorporation’. The Scottish Government has promised to incorporate the UNCRC into Scots law before summer 2021. Also, the Scottish Government has set up The National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership (Taskforce) in 2019 to address the human rights and equality impacts of Brexit in Scotland. The purpose of the Taskforce is to work out how to better protect the rights of everyone in Scotland. They are currently working with the public to understand how this should happen. Who Cares? Scotland will influence both opportunities but to do this, we want to understand what our Care Experienced members have to say on this issue.
National Engagement Sessions Throughout the rest of 2020, we will be providing opportunities for members to inform our national influencing work. These 2 hour workshops will take place over Zoom and in some of these sessions we will be joined by friends Together Scotland and Children’s Hearings Scotland. You can also contribute your views by taking part in local group work, speaking to Advocacy workers or completing our survey. https://www.whocaresscotland.org/ the-annual-participation-programme/
‘If you have any questions about the Annual Participation Programme please get in contact with Carly Edgar – cedgar@ whocaresscotland.org or get in touch with your Advocacy and Participation Worker.
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NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
Meet Your Representatives H
i everyone. My name is Marissa Roxburgh and I am a member of Who Cares? Scotland. I am also one of your representatives on the Collective. I am 19 years old and I live in East Renfrewshire with my Auntie and our pet cat named Sheba. I have lived with my aunt since the age of 10, following my mum’s passing. I initially struggled when I first moved. However, I now love where I live - there are many things I have experienced and achieved that I wouldn’t have, had I not moved in with my auntie. As well as representing you as part of the Collective, I represent young people from Renfrewshire South at the Scottish Youth Parliament. This is a role that I was elected to in March 2019. During my time as an MSYP. I was part of a group called Screen Savers and we worked to create a resource called “Mind Yer Time” which was created to support young people with their screen time and social media usage. This launched during lockdown, and if you haven’t seen it yet then maybe check it out. I might be a little bit biased, but I think it’s pretty good. I am passionate about working to create change and being able to make a positive difference in this world, which was one of the reasons that I joined the Collective and became an MSYP. Growing up I always knew I wanted to help people, but I never knew quite how. Now, I am hoping to become a youth worker and I am currently studying Community Development at the University of Glasgow with the hope of getting a job in Youth Work when I graduate. I am getting ready to go into my second year of university, after successfully completing my first year. During lockdown I have been volunteering at the humanitarian food hub in my local area, where I helped to fill bags of food that were later delivered to vulnerable people in the local area. I also volunteered my time to support Include Me 2 Club’s community meals project.
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Marissa Roxburgh
I helped to prepare and pack meals, and also delivered them to vulnerable individuals and families in the local area. I’ve had more free time over the last few months, which I’ve used to get back into reading books and doing some photography. I’ve been walking a lot. During my walks, I have discovered some really cool places in my local area that I had never been to before, and some that I didn’t even know existed. As one of your representatives for the Collective, I would like to point you towards the opposite page for some updates on the things we have been working on recently.
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE BODY UPDATE
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he Collective is the National Representative Body (NRB) of Who Cares? Scotland. It is made up of Care Experienced members of Who Cares? Scotland and functions as a congress representing the broader membership between annual Members’ Assemblies. Over the past few months, we’ve been working on crucial areas and we’re pleased to share details of progress with you, our fellow WC?S members.
• Developing an activist training programme, which will include a range of resources available online and for local groups; an enhanced representative training programme for NRB members; and a spokesperson module for NRB members involved in front facing influencing activity.
THE NRB METHOD STATEMENT Our key functions are to: • Support the design and delivery of Who Cares? Scotland’s Annual Programme of participation and influencing work, as approved by Who Cares? Scotland’s annual Members’ Assembly • Operate as a reference group for new projects and initiatives, sense-checking and supporting the design of activities proposed by the organisation and broader membership • Directly support Who Cares? Scotland’s influencing work by representing the organisation as spokespeople and contributing to the production of reports, press releases and news articles • Support membership appraisal of organisational activity and shape of organisational priorities through engagement with advocacy and participation outcomes, design / interpretation of the annual Member Survey, reporting to the annual Members’ Assembly and other activities
We’ll keep you up-to-date on our progress on these goals in future issues of Speak Out.
CO-DESIGN OF THE ANNUAL PROGRAME The Collective have recently supported the co-design of the Annual Participation Programme, which you can read more about on page 23 of this issue of Speak Out. We’re also working alongside Who Cares? Scotland staff to co-facilitate the national engagement sessions that members can attend.
DEMOCRATISATION Who Cares? Scotland developed its membership model after constitutional change in 2014. There are now over 2,800 Care Experienced members nationally. Who Cares? Scotland’s 2018-2022 strategic plan describes the organisation as being “owned and governed by Care Experienced people” and commits to having “Care Experience at the centre of our governance, through representative and inclusive processes”. The next steps to make this vision a reality include: • Asking Who Cares? Scotland members to change the organisation’s constitution in order to secure for the National Representative Body a permanent and formal place within Who Cares? Scotland’s governance structure • Developing the National Representative Body as a members’ congress representing the membership between Members’ Assemblies and comprising volunteers elected from local groups and representing underrepresented constituencies
NRB RECRUITMENT We are currently supporting the co-design of the recruitment process for Care Experienced applicants who want to get involved in the National Representative Body in future. Who Cares? Scotland will soon be announcing when recruitment will open up for the next cohort of representatives. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SURVEY The Collective have also helped to shape the questions in this year’s annual membership survey, which you can read more about on page 21 of this issue of Speak Out. We wanted to ensure all questions asked reflected the wider membership. We hope you’ll all take the time to give your feedback in this survey as it is part of the WC?S democratic approach, to ensure your voice is heard at the centre of the organisation.
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NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
TEN QUESTIONS with Jacqueline Wilson O
ver the last two years, we’ve been working closely with Jacqueline Wilson on the portrayal of Care Experienced people in her work. In particular, Tracy Beaker. If you pick up a copy of We Are The Beaker Girls, you’ll see it is dedicated to Who Cares? Scotland members thanks to our work on the book. Recently, CBBC announced they were bringing Tracy Beaker back to the screen. To celebrate, we got together with Jacqueline Wilson and asked her ten questions submitted by Who Cares? Scotland members who attended our digital festival – Share the Love. 1. What made you want to be a writer?
I’ve wanted to be a writer ever since I can remember. I used to make up stories before I could write them down – and then as soon as I could print with a pencil I started making little ‘books’ and writing my stories in them. I was writing all through my schooldays, but no-one thought I’d ever make it as a writer. However, I got a job as a junior journalist on a teenage magazine published in Dundee – and I’ve been earning my own living as a writer ever since. 2. What inspired you to write Tracy Beaker? I saw a page of children in care wanting to be fostered, and I wondered what it would feel like to be ‘advertised’ in this way. Almost at once, my Tracy popped into my head and her story practically wrote itself.
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3. Do you base characters in your book on people you’ve met. Are any Tracy Beaker characters like you?
No, I always prefer to make people up. Then I feel free to write them any way I want. 4. What made you want to revisit the story of Tracy and bring Jordan into the story? I’ve often wondered what Tracy would be like grown up, and whether she’d be a good mum. I did also wonder whether she’d ever consider fostering herself. 5. Was it difficult to write Tracy after so many years had passed? It was surprisingly easy actually. I didn’t really have to think about it. Tracy – and now Jess – are almost like family to me. 6. From My Mum Tracy Beaker to We Are The Beaker Girls, we see a significant change in Tracy’s priorities and aspirations. What do you contribute that too? Well, I certainly took on board the comments and questions from the Who Cares? Scotland group that I met in Edinburgh! 7.
Do you think here is more for you to explore with the Beaker girls?
Yes, I’ve got a few ideas – and I’d love to see how Jordan gets on living with the Beaker family.
8. You have written so many great books, why do you think Tracy Beaker is so popular? I think Tracy is so popular because she’s spirited and funny and determined and very good at standing up for herself! 9. Which authors and books do you enjoy? I love the American authors Anne Tyler and Elizabeth Strout and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and some Victorian classics like Great Expectations and Jane Eyre. I think Katherine Rundell writes great children’s books – and there’s a lovely newish book about foster children called Snow Foal by Susanna Bailey. 10. What advice do you have for any aspiring writers? Read a great deal to enrich your imagination and improve your vocabulary, and maybe keep a diary to get into a regular writing habit. Good luck!
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Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER AUTUMN 2020
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS & EVENTS
What do you want to do with your music next? Not sure, keep practicing what I’ve learned. In the future I’d like to do some MCing.
usicares is the first national music project for Care Experienced young people in Scotland. The Musicares project provides free music tuition, workshops, mentoring and advice for care experienced young people all across the country. They can offer any type of music tuition, from DJ and sound production, to guitar, singing/songwriting, drums, keyboard, or anything else that you might want to learn. Gary, 16, from Renfrewshire shares his experience below of being involved in the project.
You can find out more about the Musicares project and how to get involved on their website https://www.musicares.co.uk/
What kind of music are you into? I like bouncy music. I also like rap, MCing, hip hop that kind of thing. What have you done through the Musicares project? I have been working with Jordan (one of the tutors) doing production to learn how to mix different sounds together to make different tunes. What have you enjoyed about working with Jordan? His teaching style is very fun because he’s good at what he does and he’s very good at teaching me how to do it. What does music mean to you? A lot. When you’re stressed you can listen to music and it makes you feel better. When you’re stressed or bored and you don’t have anything to do it’s always something you can have a go at and that you can improve on. Is it important other young people get opportunities like this? Aye because it’s helping a lot of young people stay away from hanging about the streets. It’s helped me a lot for that. What would you say to other young people thinking of getting involved with Musicares? Definitely do it, because it’s good and it helps you to stay calm and learn to relax too.
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IN IT TO WIN IT… NEWS & EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
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nce you’ve completed the IN IT TO WIN IT page, please return it to your Who Cares? Scotland APW or send it to Who Cares? Scotland, 40 Wellington Street, Glasgow G2 6HJ by Thursday 19th November to be in with a chance of winning a £20 voucher of your choice.
SPOOKY VAMPIRE OR WITCH? TRIVIA 1. What is a group of witches called?
2. Where do real vampire bats live? Ambrose Spellman
VAMPIRE
OR WITCH
Melisandre
VAMPIRE
OR WITCH
3. What is the traditional Scottish name for Hallowe’en?
4. What were Jack O’Lanterns carved from before pumpkins were used?
Damon Salvatore
VAMPIRE
OR WITCH
Drusilla
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OR WITCH
5. What food do you often find covered in toffee near Halloween?
Eric Northman
VAMPIRE YOUR NAME: AGE: PHONE: WC?S WORKER: RETURN YOUR ENTRIES TO: Who Cares? Scotland, 40 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6HJ 28
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OR WITCH
Bonnie Bennett
VAMPIRE
OR WITCH
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LAST ISSUES WINNERS ARE:
Leah, 12. Joshua, 14 . Nathan, 16. Mark, 13. Tony, 16.
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… N U F R O F T S U J NEWS & EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT
Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN 2020
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NEWS & EVENTS SO JUNIOR
SUMMER 2020 Speak Out Magazine | AUTUMN
R O I N U J O S t our younger a h w t u o g in d n fi ves t him know! le Buddy the Bear lo u o y re su e k a en up to! M members have be
A Collection of Monster Short Stories The Drama Queen
Once upon a time, there was a monster that went to drama class. The monster went crazy and was kicked out of the class. Then suddenly the monster became a Drama Queen and made friends with a boy named Tom. And they created a lovely friendship. The End.
The Film Monster
Once upon a time, there was a monster who dreamed about being on TV. One day he turned on his TV and he was on the news next to a tower! The End.
My Lockdown Hobby Aiden , 12 love playing Fortnite, it has
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really kept me busy during lock down and I have become pretty good at it. Fortnite is a shooting computer game where you aim to come first place and get the Victory Royal, I have got it over a 100 times! The best thing about the game is finding cool items and playing with your friends, especially when you can’t see them because of the lock down. I would rate the game 5/5 Sneaky tip – Watch out for the henchmen halfway through the game as they fly out the sky.
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By Tom , 11
The Book Monster Once upon a time, there were a collection of monsters that were put into a story book by a boy called Tom. They were very happy. The End.
Spot the Differences
NEWSSO & EVENTS JUNIOR
Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER AUTUMN 2020
PUMPKIN PATCH
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t’s autumn which means one thing…PUMPKINS! Autumn and Halloween is my favourite time of the year and it’s all thanks to the changing leaves and the bright coloured pumpkins that we carve every year. In 2018 I travelled to Boston and visited their annual pumpkin festival which had over 100,000 pumpkins! These were all carved into thousands of different shapes such as dinosaurs, motorbikes and skeletons! I also visited a big Halloween maze which was a lot of fun! Every year in October I visit Arnprior Farm in Stirling which is Scotland’s biggest pumpkin patch. Put your wellies on, grab a warm coat and head down to pick your very own pumpkin! I’m growing my own pumpkins this year so hopefully I will have them in time for Halloween! Make sure to send in pictures of your pumpkins and the scary faces you carve on to them. Just email membership@whocaresscotland.org and we’ll share them on our social media pages and in the next issue of Speak Out!
HOW MANY BATS?
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Sian Wild APW Shetland 07599044615
Donna Bentley Schools Advocacy and Participation Development Officer 07748494341
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Ray MacLean APW North Lanarkshire 07523 512 800
Michelle McAtear APW South Lanarkshire 07841033107
Brenda Ann Murphy McKenna APW North Lanarkshire 07805 541 262
Sophie Morris APW East Lothian 07985 046739
Jemma Kerr North Ayrshire Dev Officer 07712 870 390
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Caroline Ironside APW Stirling 07849 084 996
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Kirsteen Wood APW Highland (MAT cover) 07523512610
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Geo Welshman APW Inverclyde 07849087806