The Next Phase: The New Strategic Plan

NEWS & EVENTS How We’ll Work for Care Experienced People for the Next 5 Years

In October, at our Members’ Assembly we launched our new strategic plan, ‘Our Voice, Our Community, Our Future’ setting out our strategic priorities for the next 5 years. Members, stakeholders, staff, and volunteers alike all fed into the creation of this ambitious new plan for the future of our organisation.

Our new plan will begin in 2023 and outlines our five main strategic priorities that will shape our work going forward. These are:

We want to thank everyone who contributed to the formation of this plan. It is available to view, in full, in the resources section of our website.

1. Upholding Rights – We will support all Care Experienced people to know, understand and protect their rights

We are committed to continuing our provision of high quality, independent, relationship based advocacy through both community practice and our Helpline. We will also seek to improve understanding of rights, both in general and to independent advocacy, as well as campaigning for the right to independent advocacy as set out in The Promise and we will promote equality in advocacy using our evidence database. 2. Influencing Change - We will positively influence decision makers with the ability to impact on the lives of Care Experienced people, using our robust evidence database and through gathering the views of Care Experienced people.

We will create space for Care Experienced people to influence change on a local and national level. This and all of our influencing will use our robust evidence base and we will promote diversity and equality, supporting Corporate parents to respect Care Experienced rights. 3. Creating Connection - We will bring Care Experienced people together for meaningful connection opportunities and to feel a strong sense of belonging.

Through consultation with Care Experienced people and volunteers we will provide meaningful and inclusive belonging and connection opportunities all across Scotland. We will create a diverse network of lived experience to represent the community.

4. Providing Opportunities -

We will provide an inclusive, consistent and appealing membership offer for Care Experienced people across Scotland, which promotes a positive sense of care identity and builds an engaged movement of people.

We will create a membership programme with clear benefits and opportunities alongside a compelling national events programme for Care Experienced people of all ages. We will ensure members’ voices filter through into the shaping of our work.

5. Creating Communities that

Care - We will create more inclusive and caring communities for Care Experienced people to live in, by educating Scotland about care through awareness raising activity in local communities and in the media.

We will create the conditions for Care Experienced people to be supported in their schools and communities, through local training and awareness-raising activities. We will transform public attitudes to care by delivering a public education campaign, shaped by the voices of Care Experienced people and tackle the stigma which exists.