SpeakOut WHO CARES? SCOTLAND MAGAZINE
CARE
DAY
2017 FIND OUT HOW THE CARE EXPERIENCED POPULATION MARKED THE DAY ACROSS SCOTLAND AND BEYOND.
P16-17
PLUS!
QUIZ PAGES, SPEAKOUT JUNIOR AND THE GET WRITE IN COMPETITION
SPRING 2017
t Ou k ea Sp of e su is st te la e th to e m Welco NEWS & EVENTS CONTENTS
t’s Check out wha
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
inside...
Welcome to the Spring 2017 issue of SpeakOut. 2017 has got off to a very good start and we are so excited for you to get stuck into this jam-packed issue. Find out about the festivities held across the country on Care Day (p16-17); meet Dianne, another Member of the WC?S Alumni, and see if you can relate to her story (p10-11); get an update on what the Care Council have been up to (p14); meet Charlie, our new games reviewer, and see why getting In a Bind can be fun (p24); Carly walks us through her experience of being a care experienced woman and tells us how she celebrated international Woman’s Day (p22); and make sure you enter the Get Write In competition (P26-27) where you could win a trip to The Making of Harry Potter studio tour in London! We’ve had so many great contributions from Who Cares? Scotland’s latest care experienced trainee’s, that I’m pleased to announce they’ll be officially joining the SpeakOut editorial team from the next issue onwards, to keep the rest of us in check and make sure that SpeakOut is always of the highest quality! But remember we couldn’t make SpeakOut without the help of our readers, that means you! So make sure you continue to send things in to us and keep SpeakOut a magazine for the care experienced voice. Take Care,
The Speak Out! Team xxx
Inside this issue Lifestyle... 4-5
Celebrating You
6
Keeping Up With Carly
7
Meet the Corporate Parents
8
Come Dine with Me
9
Care: My Story
10-11
The Alumni
News & Events... 12
Care Council Update
13
Ambassador Out
14
Proud2Care Inverclyde
15
MFR Radio
20
CHAMPS Film
21
Meet Your Development Assistant
22
International Women’s Day
SO Junior... 29-30 SO Junior
2
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
21
EDITOR
KIERAN
31
TOUGH TIMES!
32
Contact Page
@whocaresscot
Who Cares? Scotland Community membership@ whocaresscotland.org
ROSIE
EMILY
24-25 What’s Hot & What’s Not 28-29 Quiz Pages
30
We love hearing from you, so please share your poems, stories, pictures, jokes or tell us about something you’ve done. SpeakOut needs you! So get involved.
KATIE
Inspiring Individuals
26-27 Get Write In Competition
WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME IN PRINT?
We do!
18-19 Regional Round Up
23
14
Say Hey to your Editorial team…
16-17 Care Day 2017
Entertainment... 10-11
NEWS WELCOME & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Want to join next i ssue’s editorial team?
tie – just get in touch with Ka We’d love to have you, 9 560 06 6 81 07 / sscotland.org are oc wh @ hip ers mb me
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 The views expressed by the young people in this magazine are their own and not necessarily those of Who Cares? Scotland.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
3
t Ou k ea Sp of e su is st te la e th to e m Welco NEWS & EVENTS CONTENTS
t’s Check out wha
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
inside...
Welcome to the Spring 2017 issue of SpeakOut. 2017 has got off to a very good start and we are so excited for you to get stuck into this jam-packed issue. Find out about the festivities held across the country on Care Day (p16-17); meet Dianne, another Member of the WC?S Alumni, and see if you can relate to her story (p10-11); get an update on what the Care Council have been up to (p14); meet Charlie, our new games reviewer, and see why getting In a Bind can be fun (p24); Carly walks us through her experience of being a care experienced woman and tells us how she celebrated international Woman’s Day (p22); and make sure you enter the Get Write In competition (P26-27) where you could win a trip to The Making of Harry Potter studio tour in London! We’ve had so many great contributions from Who Cares? Scotland’s latest care experienced trainee’s, that I’m pleased to announce they’ll be officially joining the SpeakOut editorial team from the next issue onwards, to keep the rest of us in check and make sure that SpeakOut is always of the highest quality! But remember we couldn’t make SpeakOut without the help of our readers, that means you! So make sure you continue to send things in to us and keep SpeakOut a magazine for the care experienced voice. Take Care,
The Speak Out! Team xxx
Inside this issue Lifestyle... 4-5
Celebrating You
6
Keeping Up With Carly
7
Meet the Corporate Parents
8
Come Dine with Me
9
Care: My Story
10-11
The Alumni
News & Events... 12
Care Council Update
13
Ambassador Out
14
Proud2Care Inverclyde
15
MFR Radio
20
CHAMPS Film
21
Meet Your Development Assistant
22
International Women’s Day
SO Junior... 29-30 SO Junior
2
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
21
EDITOR
KIERAN
31
TOUGH TIMES!
32
Contact Page
@whocaresscot
Who Cares? Scotland Community membership@ whocaresscotland.org
ROSIE
EMILY
24-25 What’s Hot & What’s Not 28-29 Quiz Pages
30
We love hearing from you, so please share your poems, stories, pictures, jokes or tell us about something you’ve done. SpeakOut needs you! So get involved.
KATIE
Inspiring Individuals
26-27 Get Write In Competition
WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME IN PRINT?
We do!
18-19 Regional Round Up
23
14
Say Hey to your Editorial team…
16-17 Care Day 2017
Entertainment... 10-11
NEWS WELCOME & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Want to join next i ssue’s editorial team?
tie – just get in touch with Ka We’d love to have you, 9 560 06 6 81 07 / sscotland.org are oc wh @ hip ers mb me
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 The views expressed by the young people in this magazine are their own and not necessarily those of Who Cares? Scotland.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
3
CelebratingYou! LIFESTYLE
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
LIFESTYLE
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
CJM Photography CHARLIE’S
HAMSTER
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 favourite hobby or a new pet, and we’ll ething you’ve done, your include it in the next issue of SpeakOu t.
C
harlie (15) introduced her new hamster to her Advocacy worker Lynsey.
memberhip@whocares
scotla
nd.org – 5 Oswald Street, Gla sgow, G1 4QR
So Charlie, tell me about your hamster! He is a Syrian hamster and his name is Fluffy.
Choices Craigellachie Mural Chose to stay. Told the truth But was it right? Safety Happiness Love Remorse Reconciliation. The perfect daughter? Disagreement Guilt Hate Sadness Danger Was I wrong to Have kept secrets? Chose to leave. Don’t ask me why – I don’t know.
By Rhiannon (16)
Thank you
What does he like to eat? He likes carrots!
Greg's Idea
I
n September 2016 the staff and young people in Craigellachie Children’s Unit in West Dunbartonshire decided that the garden needed brightening up, so they came up with an excellent idea for a project. They invited local graffiti Artist ‘Barry The Cat’ along to do a mural with the young people. The young people were involved in the whole process from start to finish, from creating the design to choosing the colours. Luckily the weather held and the young people were able to spend a fantastic day with the artist learning spray painting skills and putting their final design onto the wall. A great time was had by all and the young people should be very proud of their artistic achievements.
Greg: “I came up with the idea of a girl sitting on a hand to reflect the care system, the girl was upset and the hand represented the support of the care system holding her up. I like drawing so I enjoyed being part of it. I wasn’t there when they painted it but when I saw it I thought it looked pretty good.” Katie: “It was a fun experience doing the spray-painting. It was nice to be involved in something that made the house and garden look better.” Angie: “I think it looks nice and it brightens up the garden. It was really good that everyone took part in it.”
MY SISTER S
4
What are Fluffy’s favourite things to do? He likes to go in his hamster ball and running on his hamster wheel. He likes to crawl up my sleeve all the time!
C
s this ) dedicate haron (16 . er sisters poem to h
Thank you to Liam and Amber who helped interview potential new managers. We couldn’t have done it without you.
How old is he? When I got him he was a baby and I’ve had him for nearly a month now so he’s still quite young.
My sister She is your sister. . She is your mirror ibilities. u a world of poss yo . at ck ba ng Shinni ur best and worst yo at u at sees yo th s es itn w ur yo She is dlessly anyway. And loves you en er in crime. She is your partn mpanion. Your midnight co she is your sister. Even in the dark, She is your heart.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
hris (17) is a budding photographer and he has decided to share some of his favourite shots with us. Chris especially likes taking photos of wildlife and flowers. When asked why he got into photography, Chris replied: “It just relaxes me after my time in care. It got me out exploring and when you’re out and about you realise how beautiful nature is.”
What is your favourite thing about fluffy? How he’s so soft! He’s also quite funny and mischievous. He likes to keep me up at night by being very loud on his wheel and he chews on toilet roll, cardboard and his wee toys!
By Charlie (15)
Your Children Sleeping in the streets, Under the coffee shop sign. No real place, I can rightly call mine. No feeling of belonging, No one to make proud. How can I achieve, With the criticism so loud. Little education, No support to try again. Still suffering past trauma, Left from childhood pain. There goes Nelson, From back in the day. Another tragic death, The news is bound to say. But what about his life, And all that he did give. What about his memories, And the things he had to live.
W
ritten for the First Minister’s visit to the WC?S National Office on Care Day.
What about the times he reached out for help, Only to be ignored and left all by himself. What about the times he tried to make things work, Despite his poor mental health.
We are your children, We are the children of the state. We need your love and guidance, Not your discrimination and hate.
We are love and light, We are strong. We have potential, To overcome the wrong.
No warm hugs, Or the reassurance of touch. Harsh realities, That often prove to much.
We need you to embrace us, To listen when we speak. We need you to act when It’s your love we seek.
So instead of filling, Your heart with hate. Or judging that child in care, Who is only eight.
Praise us when we achieve, And support us through it all. Give us the means we need, To stand proud and tall.
Stand with us, And rejoice in what we do. Be there through it all, And you’ll see the potential too.
See despite our poor outcomes, And your low expectations. We know we are more, More than the hurt and deception.
Be there through our journeys, Don’t let us walk alone. Give us your love and, Help guide us home.
Is this the life you’d wish for your child? Is this the type of life you’d choose? Do you know your actions, Are what’s causing us to lose?
By Helen (18)
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
5
CelebratingYou! LIFESTYLE
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
LIFESTYLE
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
CJM Photography CHARLIE’S
HAMSTER
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 favourite hobby or a new pet, and we’ll ething you’ve done, your include it in the next issue of SpeakOu t.
C
harlie (15) introduced her new hamster to her Advocacy worker Lynsey.
memberhip@whocares
scotla
nd.org – 5 Oswald Street, Gla sgow, G1 4QR
So Charlie, tell me about your hamster! He is a Syrian hamster and his name is Fluffy.
Choices Craigellachie Mural Chose to stay. Told the truth But was it right? Safety Happiness Love Remorse Reconciliation. The perfect daughter? Disagreement Guilt Hate Sadness Danger Was I wrong to Have kept secrets? Chose to leave. Don’t ask me why – I don’t know.
By Rhiannon (16)
Thank you
What does he like to eat? He likes carrots!
Greg's Idea
I
n September 2016 the staff and young people in Craigellachie Children’s Unit in West Dunbartonshire decided that the garden needed brightening up, so they came up with an excellent idea for a project. They invited local graffiti Artist ‘Barry The Cat’ along to do a mural with the young people. The young people were involved in the whole process from start to finish, from creating the design to choosing the colours. Luckily the weather held and the young people were able to spend a fantastic day with the artist learning spray painting skills and putting their final design onto the wall. A great time was had by all and the young people should be very proud of their artistic achievements.
Greg: “I came up with the idea of a girl sitting on a hand to reflect the care system, the girl was upset and the hand represented the support of the care system holding her up. I like drawing so I enjoyed being part of it. I wasn’t there when they painted it but when I saw it I thought it looked pretty good.” Katie: “It was a fun experience doing the spray-painting. It was nice to be involved in something that made the house and garden look better.” Angie: “I think it looks nice and it brightens up the garden. It was really good that everyone took part in it.”
MY SISTER S
4
What are Fluffy’s favourite things to do? He likes to go in his hamster ball and running on his hamster wheel. He likes to crawl up my sleeve all the time!
C
s this ) dedicate haron (16 . er sisters poem to h
Thank you to Liam and Amber who helped interview potential new managers. We couldn’t have done it without you.
How old is he? When I got him he was a baby and I’ve had him for nearly a month now so he’s still quite young.
My sister She is your sister. . She is your mirror ibilities. u a world of poss yo . at ck ba ng Shinni ur best and worst yo at u at sees yo th s es itn w ur yo She is dlessly anyway. And loves you en er in crime. She is your partn mpanion. Your midnight co she is your sister. Even in the dark, She is your heart.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
hris (17) is a budding photographer and he has decided to share some of his favourite shots with us. Chris especially likes taking photos of wildlife and flowers. When asked why he got into photography, Chris replied: “It just relaxes me after my time in care. It got me out exploring and when you’re out and about you realise how beautiful nature is.”
What is your favourite thing about fluffy? How he’s so soft! He’s also quite funny and mischievous. He likes to keep me up at night by being very loud on his wheel and he chews on toilet roll, cardboard and his wee toys!
By Charlie (15)
Your Children Sleeping in the streets, Under the coffee shop sign. No real place, I can rightly call mine. No feeling of belonging, No one to make proud. How can I achieve, With the criticism so loud. Little education, No support to try again. Still suffering past trauma, Left from childhood pain. There goes Nelson, From back in the day. Another tragic death, The news is bound to say. But what about his life, And all that he did give. What about his memories, And the things he had to live.
W
ritten for the First Minister’s visit to the WC?S National Office on Care Day.
What about the times he reached out for help, Only to be ignored and left all by himself. What about the times he tried to make things work, Despite his poor mental health.
We are your children, We are the children of the state. We need your love and guidance, Not your discrimination and hate.
We are love and light, We are strong. We have potential, To overcome the wrong.
No warm hugs, Or the reassurance of touch. Harsh realities, That often prove to much.
We need you to embrace us, To listen when we speak. We need you to act when It’s your love we seek.
So instead of filling, Your heart with hate. Or judging that child in care, Who is only eight.
Praise us when we achieve, And support us through it all. Give us the means we need, To stand proud and tall.
Stand with us, And rejoice in what we do. Be there through it all, And you’ll see the potential too.
See despite our poor outcomes, And your low expectations. We know we are more, More than the hurt and deception.
Be there through our journeys, Don’t let us walk alone. Give us your love and, Help guide us home.
Is this the life you’d wish for your child? Is this the type of life you’d choose? Do you know your actions, Are what’s causing us to lose?
By Helen (18)
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
5
NEWS & EVENTS
g n i p e Ke h t i w up H
ello readers of SpeakOut! My name is Carly Telford. I’m eighteen years old and I’m the Ambassador for the Corporate Parenting team at Who Cares? Scotland. I’ve been working with the team for just over a month now and so far it’s been exciting and completely action packed! In our team, we train corporate parents, like the Scottish Government, colleges and universities, the police and the NHS so that they understand what it’s like to be a young person growing up in the care system, and educate them on the responsibilities they have to look after young people and children in care the way any parent should. Before I applied for the job of Corporate Parenting Ambassador, I didn’t know what a corporate parent was! Now, I think that the corporate parenting team is a good fit for me as I went into care when I was three and a half, and from my experience, I know that the care system could and should be better, and that corporate parents have the power to shape lives in loads of positive ways. Before I became Ambassador, my social worker suggested I find a volunteering opportunity as I had left school, had no plans for college or university and was working in McDonalds full time. Who Cares? Scotland was the charity that came to mind because it represented something I really cared about and believed in. I joined as a Member and then volunteered with Who Cares? Scotland for six months before my coordinator suggested I apply for the role. Then, Kevin (my manager) came through the drive-thru at the McDonalds where I worked and told me I got the job. I was so happy I had to take a time out!
6
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
y Meetthe l r a C Parents Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
(Corporate)
University of Strathclyde I
Even before I was volunteering, I wanted to make sure that other young people in care weren’t missing out on opportunities which could improve their experience of care. Who Cares? Scotland share my values and
“I want to challenge the stigma surrounding those who aren’t properly represented in society.” vision when it comes to shaking up the system and I also admired the support network they provide through different groups in the community. Groups like Care2Create allow people to get creative, and to feel wanted and loved in a professional environment.
Groups like this were also a great way for me to meet other Members of the WC?S Family, and though I attended the sessions as a volunteer, I found them really therapeutic. For my time as Ambassador, I hope to help the corporate parenting team inspire lasting change and develop resources both for young people and for corporate parents. I want to challenge the stigma surrounding those who aren’t properly represented in society. It is my responsibility as Ambassador to be the face of all care experienced young people when holding corporate parents to account.
n the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, all colleges and universities in Scotland were named as corporate parents, who have duties to look after care experienced young people as any parent should. Currently, only 4% of care experienced young people leave school to go to university, compared to 39% of the general population. Jennifer is in her second year at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, studying chemistry. She grew up in foster care, and worked hard to stick in at school and get the grades she needed to go on to uni. She was worried about what support she would get to help her move out of foster care and into university halls - would she get the extra help she needed? Would there be others like her? Louise, who works in the ‘Widening Access’ team at Strathclyde, has the important job of making sure that the right help is there for students who need it. She works hard to make sure that all students are treated fairly and have the same opportunities to learn. SpeakOut caught up with Louise and Jennifer to find out how Strathclyde supports care experienced students and how important it is that they do.
L: So we have ‘Diversity Week’, which is an annual event at Strathclyde. It’s for students who come from backgrounds which people may not know a lot about. We thought it was a good opportunity for care leavers to have a voice there and a space to showcase successes and achievements. J: I think Diversity Week is really important, it ties in a lot with positive care identity. I didn’t expect to have that at university because it is kind of like ‘oh, tick a box on UCAS, maybe I need some extra help’ and it’s not something you’re really told to be proud of. Being able to come out and say, ‘We are a demographic, there are enough of us, we’re worth paying attention to’ was really important because a lot of people who come to uni might not tick that box and might not get involved with you guys at Widening Access, and it’s kind of showing them that actually there is this community. It might be small, but if you need support, it’s there.
L: It’s fabulous for me to have students like Jennifer who are so engaged, who I can get involved in projects, and I think we both get a lot out of it. I love to see students in the room. It can be a bunch of professionals sitting there talking all day, but until you hear from the students, that’s what we want to hear to make all the changes we need to make, because the students are the guys who know what’s happening and what they really want and need.
J: I think it could have been a make or break point, the reception I got at university to being care experienced - and it’s been entirely positive so far. It has really reenforced that idea of ‘I want to go out, I want to talk to people about it’. I want to encourage more care leavers to come to university, because so few of us do, and so many people sit and think ‘oh I wish I could’ but you can, the support is there, the allowances to help you are there, and having this positive response, that’s what makes it happen, if you didn’t have that, you’d still be in that situation of well, maybe not, maybe I’ll just do something else. W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
7
NEWS & EVENTS
g n i p e Ke h t i w up H
ello readers of SpeakOut! My name is Carly Telford. I’m eighteen years old and I’m the Ambassador for the Corporate Parenting team at Who Cares? Scotland. I’ve been working with the team for just over a month now and so far it’s been exciting and completely action packed! In our team, we train corporate parents, like the Scottish Government, colleges and universities, the police and the NHS so that they understand what it’s like to be a young person growing up in the care system, and educate them on the responsibilities they have to look after young people and children in care the way any parent should. Before I applied for the job of Corporate Parenting Ambassador, I didn’t know what a corporate parent was! Now, I think that the corporate parenting team is a good fit for me as I went into care when I was three and a half, and from my experience, I know that the care system could and should be better, and that corporate parents have the power to shape lives in loads of positive ways. Before I became Ambassador, my social worker suggested I find a volunteering opportunity as I had left school, had no plans for college or university and was working in McDonalds full time. Who Cares? Scotland was the charity that came to mind because it represented something I really cared about and believed in. I joined as a Member and then volunteered with Who Cares? Scotland for six months before my coordinator suggested I apply for the role. Then, Kevin (my manager) came through the drive-thru at the McDonalds where I worked and told me I got the job. I was so happy I had to take a time out!
6
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
y Meetthe l r a C Parents Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
(Corporate)
University of Strathclyde I
Even before I was volunteering, I wanted to make sure that other young people in care weren’t missing out on opportunities which could improve their experience of care. Who Cares? Scotland share my values and
“I want to challenge the stigma surrounding those who aren’t properly represented in society.” vision when it comes to shaking up the system and I also admired the support network they provide through different groups in the community. Groups like Care2Create allow people to get creative, and to feel wanted and loved in a professional environment.
Groups like this were also a great way for me to meet other Members of the WC?S Family, and though I attended the sessions as a volunteer, I found them really therapeutic. For my time as Ambassador, I hope to help the corporate parenting team inspire lasting change and develop resources both for young people and for corporate parents. I want to challenge the stigma surrounding those who aren’t properly represented in society. It is my responsibility as Ambassador to be the face of all care experienced young people when holding corporate parents to account.
n the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, all colleges and universities in Scotland were named as corporate parents, who have duties to look after care experienced young people as any parent should. Currently, only 4% of care experienced young people leave school to go to university, compared to 39% of the general population. Jennifer is in her second year at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, studying chemistry. She grew up in foster care, and worked hard to stick in at school and get the grades she needed to go on to uni. She was worried about what support she would get to help her move out of foster care and into university halls - would she get the extra help she needed? Would there be others like her? Louise, who works in the ‘Widening Access’ team at Strathclyde, has the important job of making sure that the right help is there for students who need it. She works hard to make sure that all students are treated fairly and have the same opportunities to learn. SpeakOut caught up with Louise and Jennifer to find out how Strathclyde supports care experienced students and how important it is that they do.
L: So we have ‘Diversity Week’, which is an annual event at Strathclyde. It’s for students who come from backgrounds which people may not know a lot about. We thought it was a good opportunity for care leavers to have a voice there and a space to showcase successes and achievements. J: I think Diversity Week is really important, it ties in a lot with positive care identity. I didn’t expect to have that at university because it is kind of like ‘oh, tick a box on UCAS, maybe I need some extra help’ and it’s not something you’re really told to be proud of. Being able to come out and say, ‘We are a demographic, there are enough of us, we’re worth paying attention to’ was really important because a lot of people who come to uni might not tick that box and might not get involved with you guys at Widening Access, and it’s kind of showing them that actually there is this community. It might be small, but if you need support, it’s there.
L: It’s fabulous for me to have students like Jennifer who are so engaged, who I can get involved in projects, and I think we both get a lot out of it. I love to see students in the room. It can be a bunch of professionals sitting there talking all day, but until you hear from the students, that’s what we want to hear to make all the changes we need to make, because the students are the guys who know what’s happening and what they really want and need.
J: I think it could have been a make or break point, the reception I got at university to being care experienced - and it’s been entirely positive so far. It has really reenforced that idea of ‘I want to go out, I want to talk to people about it’. I want to encourage more care leavers to come to university, because so few of us do, and so many people sit and think ‘oh I wish I could’ but you can, the support is there, the allowances to help you are there, and having this positive response, that’s what makes it happen, if you didn’t have that, you’d still be in that situation of well, maybe not, maybe I’ll just do something else. W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
7
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Come dine with me! Shortbread
Dylan , 14
D
ylan loves keeping busy in the kitchen and making delicious things for family and friends. He is planning on taking a professional cookery course at college this year. He would love to share his recipe for shortbread with the readers of Speak Out. What you need: • 150g Plain flour • 100g Butter (small cubes at room temperature) • 50g Sugar
Steps: 1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees 2. Put butter, flour and sugar in a mixing bowl 3. Mix together with your hands so that the mixture looks like breadcrumbs 4. Use hands to squeeze the mixture together so that the mixture looks like dough 5. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface 6. Cut out the shapes using your chosen cutter 7. Place them on a greased baking tray and prick each biscuit lightly with a fork 8. Put in oven for 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown 9. Then let the biscuits cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes 10. Lightly sprinkle the shortbread with some castor sugar to finish off Enjoy!! PRIZES: We have some yummy food related prizes to give away. If you send in a photo of something delicious you’ve cooked you could be in with a chance of winning. You can email your entry to membership@ whocaresscotland.org or post it to Who Cares? Scotland, 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow, G1 4QR. Closing date 12.06.2017
8
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
I
Care:My Story
was taken in to care when I was 9 ½. I remember at the time my behaviour was bad, things were difficult at home so I was taken into care and taken to a residential house in North Ayrshire. I was confused for the first while and angry at the situation. I hated it there, being away from my home and family was hard and I was constantly kicking off and picking up charges. I was there for 1 ½ years. Some of the staff really helped me while I was there but I still didn’t like it and didn’t want to be there. Then I got to move back home but I was only there for 6 months. When I went home things were still the same as before and things went downhill very quickly. I was moved out of my home again and moved to a different residential house in North Ayrshire. When I first arrived at this house I felt nervous but it was good because I knew some of the staff and young people from my last placement. Living in this house was still hard and I made some bad choices. I was only there for 1 ½ years again. I then got moved to a placement up North because of my behaviour. I loved this placement. I felt that I got more support, the staff were great and my behaviour improved and I was making better choices. I felt I was doing really well and then social work decided to move me back to North Ayrshire. I didn’t want to move back but social work put me back in same placement as before, that only lasted 9 weeks and then I was returned to my placement up North. I was happy to be back but this only lasted a few weeks and I was moved to a new house in Stirlingshire. I hated this move, I was really unhappy. I didn’t get on with the staff, I didn’t feel listened to and I was unhappy with decisions that were made. I stayed in this unhappy placement for just
Dannielle,17
5 7
8
over a year. I fought really hard to get moved especially when my only true friend had left. I then got moved to another house this time in East Ayrshire. This was hard at the beginning as there had been so many changes. Despite 8 placement moves I finished my education, college placements including Hair and Beauty, Princes Trust and two activity agreements. I am now looking at going to college and doing an apprenticeship and also having my own place so that I can finally settle down and have more freedom. I am hoping that this will be my last move for a while and somewhere that I can
1
2
3
4
9
6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Family home in North Ayrshire Unit in North Ayrshire Back to family home 2nd unit in North Ayrshire Unit in North of Scotland Back to 2nd unit in North Ayrshire Back to unit in North of Scotland New unit in Stirlingshire New unit in East Ayrshire.
call home. Life has been hard but I have had lots of support and built relationships with my Mum and Dad which has helped me to shape my future.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
9
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Come dine with me! Shortbread
Dylan , 14
D
ylan loves keeping busy in the kitchen and making delicious things for family and friends. He is planning on taking a professional cookery course at college this year. He would love to share his recipe for shortbread with the readers of Speak Out. What you need: • 150g Plain flour • 100g Butter (small cubes at room temperature) • 50g Sugar
Steps: 1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees 2. Put butter, flour and sugar in a mixing bowl 3. Mix together with your hands so that the mixture looks like breadcrumbs 4. Use hands to squeeze the mixture together so that the mixture looks like dough 5. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface 6. Cut out the shapes using your chosen cutter 7. Place them on a greased baking tray and prick each biscuit lightly with a fork 8. Put in oven for 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown 9. Then let the biscuits cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes 10. Lightly sprinkle the shortbread with some castor sugar to finish off Enjoy!! PRIZES: We have some yummy food related prizes to give away. If you send in a photo of something delicious you’ve cooked you could be in with a chance of winning. You can email your entry to membership@ whocaresscotland.org or post it to Who Cares? Scotland, 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow, G1 4QR. Closing date 12.06.2017
8
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
I
Care:My Story
was taken in to care when I was 9 ½. I remember at the time my behaviour was bad, things were difficult at home so I was taken into care and taken to a residential house in North Ayrshire. I was confused for the first while and angry at the situation. I hated it there, being away from my home and family was hard and I was constantly kicking off and picking up charges. I was there for 1 ½ years. Some of the staff really helped me while I was there but I still didn’t like it and didn’t want to be there. Then I got to move back home but I was only there for 6 months. When I went home things were still the same as before and things went downhill very quickly. I was moved out of my home again and moved to a different residential house in North Ayrshire. When I first arrived at this house I felt nervous but it was good because I knew some of the staff and young people from my last placement. Living in this house was still hard and I made some bad choices. I was only there for 1 ½ years again. I then got moved to a placement up North because of my behaviour. I loved this placement. I felt that I got more support, the staff were great and my behaviour improved and I was making better choices. I felt I was doing really well and then social work decided to move me back to North Ayrshire. I didn’t want to move back but social work put me back in same placement as before, that only lasted 9 weeks and then I was returned to my placement up North. I was happy to be back but this only lasted a few weeks and I was moved to a new house in Stirlingshire. I hated this move, I was really unhappy. I didn’t get on with the staff, I didn’t feel listened to and I was unhappy with decisions that were made. I stayed in this unhappy placement for just
Dannielle,17
5 7
8
over a year. I fought really hard to get moved especially when my only true friend had left. I then got moved to another house this time in East Ayrshire. This was hard at the beginning as there had been so many changes. Despite 8 placement moves I finished my education, college placements including Hair and Beauty, Princes Trust and two activity agreements. I am now looking at going to college and doing an apprenticeship and also having my own place so that I can finally settle down and have more freedom. I am hoping that this will be my last move for a while and somewhere that I can
1
2
3
4
9
6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Family home in North Ayrshire Unit in North Ayrshire Back to family home 2nd unit in North Ayrshire Unit in North of Scotland Back to 2nd unit in North Ayrshire Back to unit in North of Scotland New unit in Stirlingshire New unit in East Ayrshire.
call home. Life has been hard but I have had lots of support and built relationships with my Mum and Dad which has helped me to shape my future.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
9
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
THE ALUMNIWHO ARE WE? WHO AM I? D
ianne Webb, Who Cares? Scotland Alumni Member, tells us how she turned her life around. I’m 38 now and although my care experience was long ago, it is always with me. Today I feel very fortunate to have what I would describe as a good job, a house of my own and a rock of a husband. Getting here wasn’t easy though and it’s only recently, thanks to hearing Laura Beveridge’s Ted Talk, that I’ve started truly owing my care identity. I worried that speaking about my experience would make me feel vulnerable, and although it can do at times, overall, I’ve felt stronger which has surprised me. I hope sharing some of my experience can help someone, in some way, no matter how small.
“I worried that speaking about my experience would make me feel vulnerable, and although it can do at times, overall, I’ve felt stronger” 10
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
B B E W E N A I D lumni Member A
“ As a child, every time a family home or placement breaks down, it chips away at you and you start to think, is it me? Is there something wrong with me?”
My mum died of ovarian cancer aged 38. I had just turned 15 when my younger sisters and I were removed from our family home. We were temporarily placed between two separate family members, after that broke down we were moved into foster care. The foster placement broke down in under a year and one Monday afternoon we were picked up from school by the social worker and told that whilst I was going to a local children’s home, my sisters were going into foster care in a different area. At the time it was better than the alternative but still a shock and I was really sad to be split up from my sisters and I felt powerless to protect them. As a child, every time a family home or placement breaks down, it chips away at you and you start to
think, is it me? Is there something wrong with me? Today I know that’s not the case but back then I wasn’t so sure. While all of this was happening my school exams were about to kick off. I had already decided before starting high school that I wanted to go to university. I knew if I didn’t get good grades I couldn’t get into University. I remember saying to myself “Diane if you go for a university/job interview
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
“I remember a day my social worker visited and stayed talking to me in her car long after she should have gone home and this meant the world to me.” in the future, they won’t care that you had a difficult childhood or want to hear your excuses, all they will be interested in is the grades”. Now looking back, I think that I was a bit harsh on myself but it kept me motivated. I feel sad writing this, but at age 16 I decided that I preferred being in a children’s home. I knew the staff were paid to look after me therefore I didn’t have to work out whether they cared about me or not. Although I learned some staff did care, but on the quiet because procedure came first. I was looking for that unconditional love, the kind I thought you could only get from parents. However, I remember a day my social worker visited and stayed talking to me in her car long after she should have gone home and this meant the world to me. I clung onto these glimpses of unconditional love. Living in the children home wasn’t easy. While I cycled for 40 mins to school, even in the snow, the other young people were being persuaded into taxis to secure school units. I remember feeling some staff mistrusted me, as I was behaving differently to how they expected. I don’t remember being asked about school much, I think they just let me get on with it. However, I suffered from bulimia at this time and no one had a clue. Probably not expected
from the kid who just got on. I only recovered from my intermittent bouts of bulimia 5 years ago. At age 16 I was so pleased to be moving from the children’s home into a bedsit. I felt so pleased they trusted me. I remember having to get furniture and decide how to decorate the flat, pay bills and apply for benefits which was all a bit grown up for a 16 year old about to start her Highers. I loved my bedsit but I did feel very lonely. I would listen to a talk show on the radio at night for company. After sometime I eventually got a cat and called her Lucky but I had to keep it secret from my Throughcare worker as they had a rule against young people having pets. I loved the feeling of having something to come home to. One day my Throughcare worker happened to see the cat jump out of my kitchen window and next thing I knew I was in a serious meeting with her and the manager
“Turn it around and use your resilience, empathy, strength and determination as an asset. Shine your light on the world.”
who ordered me to get rid of the cat. I was heartbroken. I felt they didn’t care about me, it was the rules that mattered most with no room for compromise. At 18 I got accepted into Strathclyde University for a BA in Community Arts where. There were only 15 places and it felt like a huge achievement but I just wanted to tell my mum. Later on I went onto achieve an MSc in Information
Technology at Paisley University and I’m now nearing the end of a post graduate diploma at Coventry University. Education isn’t for everyone, it just ended up being my thing. I think it was my only constant, my security and my way forward. Counselling and creating a network of positive people also helped me deal with my past. I received counselling when I was 18 years old from a wonderful lady called Collette. She helped me unpack things and process memories. I still use her strategies today. I also attended group counselling where I met an amazing women, who 20 years on, is still one of my closest friends. Having a friend like her in my life, who just gets me and I get her, has helped us both stay sane and strong. I have learned that this type of support is crucial in life. At age 15 I remember saying to myself “Diane just because the first 15 years have been hard don’t let that ruin the next 15 years”, far too sensible for a 15 year old but it worked. As a Who Cares? Scotland Alumni member this is the message I want to give. You can achieve anything. Don’t let your past define you. Turn it around and use your resilience, empathy, strength and determination as an asset. Shine your light on the world.
t or know of a family member, If you have had any care experience in the pas m to join the Who Cares? friend or colleague who has then please ask the g and they too can help make Scotland Family at www.whocaresscotland.or ng people. Scotland a better place for care experienced you
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
11
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
THE ALUMNIWHO ARE WE? WHO AM I? D
ianne Webb, Who Cares? Scotland Alumni Member, tells us how she turned her life around. I’m 38 now and although my care experience was long ago, it is always with me. Today I feel very fortunate to have what I would describe as a good job, a house of my own and a rock of a husband. Getting here wasn’t easy though and it’s only recently, thanks to hearing Laura Beveridge’s Ted Talk, that I’ve started truly owing my care identity. I worried that speaking about my experience would make me feel vulnerable, and although it can do at times, overall, I’ve felt stronger which has surprised me. I hope sharing some of my experience can help someone, in some way, no matter how small.
“I worried that speaking about my experience would make me feel vulnerable, and although it can do at times, overall, I’ve felt stronger” 10
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
B B E W E N A I D lumni Member A
“ As a child, every time a family home or placement breaks down, it chips away at you and you start to think, is it me? Is there something wrong with me?”
My mum died of ovarian cancer aged 38. I had just turned 15 when my younger sisters and I were removed from our family home. We were temporarily placed between two separate family members, after that broke down we were moved into foster care. The foster placement broke down in under a year and one Monday afternoon we were picked up from school by the social worker and told that whilst I was going to a local children’s home, my sisters were going into foster care in a different area. At the time it was better than the alternative but still a shock and I was really sad to be split up from my sisters and I felt powerless to protect them. As a child, every time a family home or placement breaks down, it chips away at you and you start to
think, is it me? Is there something wrong with me? Today I know that’s not the case but back then I wasn’t so sure. While all of this was happening my school exams were about to kick off. I had already decided before starting high school that I wanted to go to university. I knew if I didn’t get good grades I couldn’t get into University. I remember saying to myself “Diane if you go for a university/job interview
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
“I remember a day my social worker visited and stayed talking to me in her car long after she should have gone home and this meant the world to me.” in the future, they won’t care that you had a difficult childhood or want to hear your excuses, all they will be interested in is the grades”. Now looking back, I think that I was a bit harsh on myself but it kept me motivated. I feel sad writing this, but at age 16 I decided that I preferred being in a children’s home. I knew the staff were paid to look after me therefore I didn’t have to work out whether they cared about me or not. Although I learned some staff did care, but on the quiet because procedure came first. I was looking for that unconditional love, the kind I thought you could only get from parents. However, I remember a day my social worker visited and stayed talking to me in her car long after she should have gone home and this meant the world to me. I clung onto these glimpses of unconditional love. Living in the children home wasn’t easy. While I cycled for 40 mins to school, even in the snow, the other young people were being persuaded into taxis to secure school units. I remember feeling some staff mistrusted me, as I was behaving differently to how they expected. I don’t remember being asked about school much, I think they just let me get on with it. However, I suffered from bulimia at this time and no one had a clue. Probably not expected
from the kid who just got on. I only recovered from my intermittent bouts of bulimia 5 years ago. At age 16 I was so pleased to be moving from the children’s home into a bedsit. I felt so pleased they trusted me. I remember having to get furniture and decide how to decorate the flat, pay bills and apply for benefits which was all a bit grown up for a 16 year old about to start her Highers. I loved my bedsit but I did feel very lonely. I would listen to a talk show on the radio at night for company. After sometime I eventually got a cat and called her Lucky but I had to keep it secret from my Throughcare worker as they had a rule against young people having pets. I loved the feeling of having something to come home to. One day my Throughcare worker happened to see the cat jump out of my kitchen window and next thing I knew I was in a serious meeting with her and the manager
“Turn it around and use your resilience, empathy, strength and determination as an asset. Shine your light on the world.”
who ordered me to get rid of the cat. I was heartbroken. I felt they didn’t care about me, it was the rules that mattered most with no room for compromise. At 18 I got accepted into Strathclyde University for a BA in Community Arts where. There were only 15 places and it felt like a huge achievement but I just wanted to tell my mum. Later on I went onto achieve an MSc in Information
Technology at Paisley University and I’m now nearing the end of a post graduate diploma at Coventry University. Education isn’t for everyone, it just ended up being my thing. I think it was my only constant, my security and my way forward. Counselling and creating a network of positive people also helped me deal with my past. I received counselling when I was 18 years old from a wonderful lady called Collette. She helped me unpack things and process memories. I still use her strategies today. I also attended group counselling where I met an amazing women, who 20 years on, is still one of my closest friends. Having a friend like her in my life, who just gets me and I get her, has helped us both stay sane and strong. I have learned that this type of support is crucial in life. At age 15 I remember saying to myself “Diane just because the first 15 years have been hard don’t let that ruin the next 15 years”, far too sensible for a 15 year old but it worked. As a Who Cares? Scotland Alumni member this is the message I want to give. You can achieve anything. Don’t let your past define you. Turn it around and use your resilience, empathy, strength and determination as an asset. Shine your light on the world.
t or know of a family member, If you have had any care experience in the pas m to join the Who Cares? friend or colleague who has then please ask the g and they too can help make Scotland Family at www.whocaresscotland.or ng people. Scotland a better place for care experienced you
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
11
Care Council Update NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
H
opefully by now many of you have heard of the Care Council, for those of you who haven’t or those of you who need a re-cap, the Care Council was formed in May 2015 and is an elected group of care experienced young people whose purpose is to represent YOU, Scotland’s care experienced population, at a national level with key corporate parents and decision makers. Over the past 2 years the members of the Care Council have attended several residentials to prepare for their roles as councillors whilst helping guide the work of Who Cares? Scotland. Care Councillor Demi-Jo tells us about her experience as a councillor and the latest residential. During my first Care Council residential I had made lots of friends, so with the next one coming up I couldn’t wait to see everyone again but I was still a bit nervous because being away from the house and the Care Council is different from anything I’ve ever experienced. After we arrived and had been fed, we were introduced to our MSYP candidates Ryan and Helen, who were both campaigning for a place on the Scottish Youth Parliament. Jimmy Paul, a care leaver and member of Who Cares? Scotland’s Alumni, had also come to share his care journey with us. The things he said he had experienced connected with us all on a deep level and some parts were hard-hitting. Afterwards we had some free time to chill out and enjoy our time together before bed. On Saturday morning Ryan and Helen briefly spoke about why they wanted to be our MSYPs and what they would do for care experienced young people if they were elected, as later on that day we were to hold hustings (a question and answer session for the candidates) and then vote. After breakfast, we had a session with the Corporate Parenting team on health services with corporate parenting responsibilities to care experienced young people. We also reflected on what’s important in our lives and what makes us happy. Some of us chose things like childhood teddies, some chose memories and people, and some chose a mixture of memories, people,
12
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
Ambassador Out! A
and things. Later we worked with representatives from CHS and SCRA on what a perfect children’s panel would look like. We were split into groups to discuss each part of a panel, expressing our views and opinions on what would make them better. We then got to create a short play to show what our ideal panels would really be like. We finished the day with the hustings which were really exciting. It allowed us to get to know more about Ryan and Helen and how they would use their position on the SYP to help the Care
Council achieve its goals. Then we all voted which felt empowering. In the end both Helen and Ryan were elected. It’s so good that we now have a voice in the youth parliament and it will be great to see what this will achieve for care experienced young people. I like being a care councillor because it feels good to be around so many people who are so caring and passionate about making care a better place for all young people. I look forward to engaging with more young people and seeing our voice and influence grow.
fter three amazing years, my time as a Who Cares? Scotland care experienced Ambassador has come to an end. I received a fantastic job offer from my Local Authority and as I am always up for a challenge, I couldn’t turn it down. My relationship with WC?S started about 11 years ago, when I met my advocate, Kim, who gave me a voice. From that point on, all I ever wanted was a chance to work for WC?S and help care experienced people, the way Kim had helped me. Three years ago, I got that chance and I haven’t looked back. I am proud to say that I have achieved every goal I set for myself when I started working here. I have seen so many fantastic changes in my time here at WC?S, including the introduction of the 2014 Children and Young People Act, which gave young people the right to stay in care until they are 21 years old and access Aftercare services until they are 26. Also, our 1000 Voices campaign which has led to the First Minister promising to listen to the voices of at least 1000 care experienced people over the next two years. And, of course, the Root and Branch review of the care system which is due to start this year
From that point on, all I ever wanted was a chance to work for WC?S and help care experienced people, the way Kim had helped me. and will lead to massive improvements in the care and protection system. Every success achieved by WC?S is because of great teamwork and the dedication of all the staff. It has been so amazing to see real change happen because of our work. When I shared my care story with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), the people who set exams in school, I told them that my academic achievements weren’t always celebrated and that I didn’t always have someone to be proud of me. After hearing this, they realised that as a Corporate Parent they should celebrate care experienced young people’s exam success with them and they now throw results day parties! I have helped train hundreds of corporate parents and I was also one of the first care experienced people to train children’s hearing panel members. Lots of public speaking has really grown my confidence and this allowed me to have a go at doing stand-up comedy outside of work.
With the ups, there are always downs and I’m not going to pretend I haven’t had my fair share of those. I recently started a college course, but due to several reasons it didn’t work out. It was disappointing when I couldn’t finish the course, but I reminded myself that the strongest people in life are not those who constantly succeed but those who know what it is to fail and continue to try nonetheless. I know that every one of you, as WC?S members, will continue to improve and change the care system. Everything WC?S does is only possible because of all. Thank you for the memories. I love you all and will miss you, just remember to keep on changing the world and continue to be the amazing, brave and inspirational people that you are and you will make care phenomenal. Ambassador Out!
ers, 22 lm a h C r o n n o C W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
13
Care Council Update NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
H
opefully by now many of you have heard of the Care Council, for those of you who haven’t or those of you who need a re-cap, the Care Council was formed in May 2015 and is an elected group of care experienced young people whose purpose is to represent YOU, Scotland’s care experienced population, at a national level with key corporate parents and decision makers. Over the past 2 years the members of the Care Council have attended several residentials to prepare for their roles as councillors whilst helping guide the work of Who Cares? Scotland. Care Councillor Demi-Jo tells us about her experience as a councillor and the latest residential. During my first Care Council residential I had made lots of friends, so with the next one coming up I couldn’t wait to see everyone again but I was still a bit nervous because being away from the house and the Care Council is different from anything I’ve ever experienced. After we arrived and had been fed, we were introduced to our MSYP candidates Ryan and Helen, who were both campaigning for a place on the Scottish Youth Parliament. Jimmy Paul, a care leaver and member of Who Cares? Scotland’s Alumni, had also come to share his care journey with us. The things he said he had experienced connected with us all on a deep level and some parts were hard-hitting. Afterwards we had some free time to chill out and enjoy our time together before bed. On Saturday morning Ryan and Helen briefly spoke about why they wanted to be our MSYPs and what they would do for care experienced young people if they were elected, as later on that day we were to hold hustings (a question and answer session for the candidates) and then vote. After breakfast, we had a session with the Corporate Parenting team on health services with corporate parenting responsibilities to care experienced young people. We also reflected on what’s important in our lives and what makes us happy. Some of us chose things like childhood teddies, some chose memories and people, and some chose a mixture of memories, people,
12
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
Ambassador Out! A
and things. Later we worked with representatives from CHS and SCRA on what a perfect children’s panel would look like. We were split into groups to discuss each part of a panel, expressing our views and opinions on what would make them better. We then got to create a short play to show what our ideal panels would really be like. We finished the day with the hustings which were really exciting. It allowed us to get to know more about Ryan and Helen and how they would use their position on the SYP to help the Care
Council achieve its goals. Then we all voted which felt empowering. In the end both Helen and Ryan were elected. It’s so good that we now have a voice in the youth parliament and it will be great to see what this will achieve for care experienced young people. I like being a care councillor because it feels good to be around so many people who are so caring and passionate about making care a better place for all young people. I look forward to engaging with more young people and seeing our voice and influence grow.
fter three amazing years, my time as a Who Cares? Scotland care experienced Ambassador has come to an end. I received a fantastic job offer from my Local Authority and as I am always up for a challenge, I couldn’t turn it down. My relationship with WC?S started about 11 years ago, when I met my advocate, Kim, who gave me a voice. From that point on, all I ever wanted was a chance to work for WC?S and help care experienced people, the way Kim had helped me. Three years ago, I got that chance and I haven’t looked back. I am proud to say that I have achieved every goal I set for myself when I started working here. I have seen so many fantastic changes in my time here at WC?S, including the introduction of the 2014 Children and Young People Act, which gave young people the right to stay in care until they are 21 years old and access Aftercare services until they are 26. Also, our 1000 Voices campaign which has led to the First Minister promising to listen to the voices of at least 1000 care experienced people over the next two years. And, of course, the Root and Branch review of the care system which is due to start this year
From that point on, all I ever wanted was a chance to work for WC?S and help care experienced people, the way Kim had helped me. and will lead to massive improvements in the care and protection system. Every success achieved by WC?S is because of great teamwork and the dedication of all the staff. It has been so amazing to see real change happen because of our work. When I shared my care story with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), the people who set exams in school, I told them that my academic achievements weren’t always celebrated and that I didn’t always have someone to be proud of me. After hearing this, they realised that as a Corporate Parent they should celebrate care experienced young people’s exam success with them and they now throw results day parties! I have helped train hundreds of corporate parents and I was also one of the first care experienced people to train children’s hearing panel members. Lots of public speaking has really grown my confidence and this allowed me to have a go at doing stand-up comedy outside of work.
With the ups, there are always downs and I’m not going to pretend I haven’t had my fair share of those. I recently started a college course, but due to several reasons it didn’t work out. It was disappointing when I couldn’t finish the course, but I reminded myself that the strongest people in life are not those who constantly succeed but those who know what it is to fail and continue to try nonetheless. I know that every one of you, as WC?S members, will continue to improve and change the care system. Everything WC?S does is only possible because of all. Thank you for the memories. I love you all and will miss you, just remember to keep on changing the world and continue to be the amazing, brave and inspirational people that you are and you will make care phenomenal. Ambassador Out!
ers, 22 lm a h C r o n n o C W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
13
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
MFR radio shares the stories of local care experienced young people
By Bev McKeown
(Participation Assistant)
e r a C 2 d u o r P e d y l c r e v n I
H
i, we are Roberta and Dylan from the Proud2Care Group in Inverclyde. We wanted to write a wee article about our group. Our group started in October, during National Care Leavers week 2016. We found out about this group from Aileen Wilson (The Children’s Rights Officer) and Nicole Darroch (The Advocacy and Participation worker from WC?S). The group runs every week at the Gourock Izone. We do lots of different things at our group, recently we met panel members and told them what we thought of panels and what could be better. We are also making a leaflet on what makes a good social worker, we speak about our care experience and what we want to improve as well as things that go well. Roberta says - “I really like the group because there are a lot of people who understand me and are in care too. I don’t get asked lots of questions because they understand what it can be like. I have a lot of fun at the group and I would say everyone in the group is my friends.” On Tuesday 22nd February four of us went to the Annual Child Protection Conference and we delivered a workshop on the statistics of care experienced young people. At the workshop we talked to different professionals like social workers, head teachers and people from the council. Everyone really liked our workshop and wanted to know more about our group and how they could help care experienced young people. We all really enjoyed it and we have been told we can do it again for other people which is exciting. 14
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
lan (17) y D d n a ) 5 1 ( a By Robert
A
t the start of 2016, 6 brave young people were offered an opportunity of a life time. They were invited to the Moray Firth Radio (MFR) recording studios to talk about their journey through the care system, this recording would be played live on the radio along with the videos being shared on social media. All 4 young people agreed and thought it was a fantastic way to raise awareness, and battle the stigma faced by care experienced people. So, with the young people agreeing to do this, work started. One by one we went in to do our
recordings. It was an exciting time, you know it’s not every day you get invited to appear on the radio. The plan was originally for the recordings to go live during National Care Leavers Week in October 2016, but as there was so much in the news at that time it had to be pushed back a few months. Finally it went live in January 2017. I think for most of us it was a nail biting time, not really knowing what to expect. Not knowing how the public would respond to it. At the end week, we discovered that our recordings managed to
get 100,000 views, just on social media alone. Never mind the people that were listening live to it on the radio. With coverage reaching as far as Aberdeenshire and even down to the central belt. We set out to raise awareness and battle the stigma faced by care experienced people and we did just that. We were extremely overwhelmed with the amount of views and support we got throughout the processes. MFR have now been put forward for a BBC radio Scotland of the year award because of the programme. A huge well done to all involved.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
15
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
MFR radio shares the stories of local care experienced young people
By Bev McKeown
(Participation Assistant)
e r a C 2 d u o r P e d y l c r e v n I
H
i, we are Roberta and Dylan from the Proud2Care Group in Inverclyde. We wanted to write a wee article about our group. Our group started in October, during National Care Leavers week 2016. We found out about this group from Aileen Wilson (The Children’s Rights Officer) and Nicole Darroch (The Advocacy and Participation worker from WC?S). The group runs every week at the Gourock Izone. We do lots of different things at our group, recently we met panel members and told them what we thought of panels and what could be better. We are also making a leaflet on what makes a good social worker, we speak about our care experience and what we want to improve as well as things that go well. Roberta says - “I really like the group because there are a lot of people who understand me and are in care too. I don’t get asked lots of questions because they understand what it can be like. I have a lot of fun at the group and I would say everyone in the group is my friends.” On Tuesday 22nd February four of us went to the Annual Child Protection Conference and we delivered a workshop on the statistics of care experienced young people. At the workshop we talked to different professionals like social workers, head teachers and people from the council. Everyone really liked our workshop and wanted to know more about our group and how they could help care experienced young people. We all really enjoyed it and we have been told we can do it again for other people which is exciting. 14
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
lan (17) y D d n a ) 5 1 ( a By Robert
A
t the start of 2016, 6 brave young people were offered an opportunity of a life time. They were invited to the Moray Firth Radio (MFR) recording studios to talk about their journey through the care system, this recording would be played live on the radio along with the videos being shared on social media. All 4 young people agreed and thought it was a fantastic way to raise awareness, and battle the stigma faced by care experienced people. So, with the young people agreeing to do this, work started. One by one we went in to do our
recordings. It was an exciting time, you know it’s not every day you get invited to appear on the radio. The plan was originally for the recordings to go live during National Care Leavers Week in October 2016, but as there was so much in the news at that time it had to be pushed back a few months. Finally it went live in January 2017. I think for most of us it was a nail biting time, not really knowing what to expect. Not knowing how the public would respond to it. At the end week, we discovered that our recordings managed to
get 100,000 views, just on social media alone. Never mind the people that were listening live to it on the radio. With coverage reaching as far as Aberdeenshire and even down to the central belt. We set out to raise awareness and battle the stigma faced by care experienced people and we did just that. We were extremely overwhelmed with the amount of views and support we got throughout the processes. MFR have now been put forward for a BBC radio Scotland of the year award because of the programme. A huge well done to all involved.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
15
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
7 1 0 2 Y A D CARE
NEWS & EVENTS
ways. Read on to of ty rie va a in ry ua br Fe th 17 e th on y Da This year we celebrated Care beyond. d an d lan ot Sc ss ro ac y da e th ed rk ma ion hear how the care experienced populat
h d li re a C d n a p ri T d oa R ay D Care ced Ambassador Lynzy Hanvidge, Care Experien
I
went on a road trip with my manager, Carly and the Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald. Mark works on laws and policies that focus on looked after young people, fostering and adoption, children’s rights and children’s hearing systems. He works closely with big decision makers in Government to make things better for people like us. We organised the road trip so Mark could connect with care experienced young people and find out what life for us is really like.
We started in Aberdeen at the Robert Gordon University where a group of young people came to speak to Mark. Hearing my care experienced family speak about their lives was an amazing feeling, I felt so proud that their voices were being heard. We spoke about social work, aftercare support, relationships and champions boards. Mark learnt that champions boards are a direct way for young people to bring live issues to the decision makers within their local authority. My highlight of the morning was witnessing how well Mark interacted with us all, he listened and made everyone feel comfortable enough to share their experiences. 16
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
Next stop, Dundee. There was over 40 young people at this event. We watched two powerful videos made by young people on being care experienced and the stigma they face. Soon it was time to head back to Glasgow for our Carelidh. The Carelidh was the biggest event of the day and it brought 200 care experienced people together to celebrate. Every young person that came could invite someone who had a positive impact on their life. Mark was my guest as I know he is going to try his best to make a difference in all our lives.
Belfast
A group of young people from East Lothian supported by WC?S staff travelled to Belfast for a couple of days over the 17th to celebrate with our Northern Irish partner organisation VOYPIC. They had breakfast with Belfast Lord Mayor Alderman Brian Kingston (DUP) and took part in an event at the Northern Ireland Assembly Building at Stormont Castle. Friday night found them in Belfast City Hall where care experienced people came together for a celebratory Rokioke (Rock Music Karaoke) party night. Before the trip, East Lothian Champions Board Member Beth had said “I’m excited to be going on a plane for the first time and I’m excited about representing the Champs Board and meeting someone as important as the Mayor.”
y Cup a D e r a C e Th We held a football tournament in South Lanarkshire. Ten young people played in the tournament held in Hamilton. Jon with cup Ally Dawson Jon with ball The event was also attended by Ally Dawson, ex-Rangers player from the 80’s who came along to help out. A big thank you to all the young people who came and to Ally and David at Street Soccer who helped make the event possible.
Kibble
This year we celebrated Care Day by getting together and reflecting on the positive aspects of being in care, and what opportunities being in care provides for young people. We created a lovely canvas with hand prints touching to symbolise relationships which were important to the young people and a tree surrounded with things young people felt were positives about being in care.
Celebrating on the Island Ashleigh MacDonald (21)
We used Care Day to make sure that the Western Isles Council really understand what it means to be in care and what WC?S do to help. We started off with having opening speeches from Alison, the local APW, and the head of education. As an ice breaker each person had to say their name, job title and their favourite childhood memories. Then me and Megan shared our care stories. We talked about the Care Council and Summer Camp. We also made a YouTube video about the services available for young care experienced people.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
17
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
7 1 0 2 Y A D CARE
NEWS & EVENTS
ways. Read on to of ty rie va a in ry ua br Fe th 17 e th on y Da This year we celebrated Care beyond. d an d lan ot Sc ss ro ac y da e th ed rk ma ion hear how the care experienced populat
h d li re a C d n a p ri T d oa R ay D Care ced Ambassador Lynzy Hanvidge, Care Experien
I
went on a road trip with my manager, Carly and the Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald. Mark works on laws and policies that focus on looked after young people, fostering and adoption, children’s rights and children’s hearing systems. He works closely with big decision makers in Government to make things better for people like us. We organised the road trip so Mark could connect with care experienced young people and find out what life for us is really like.
We started in Aberdeen at the Robert Gordon University where a group of young people came to speak to Mark. Hearing my care experienced family speak about their lives was an amazing feeling, I felt so proud that their voices were being heard. We spoke about social work, aftercare support, relationships and champions boards. Mark learnt that champions boards are a direct way for young people to bring live issues to the decision makers within their local authority. My highlight of the morning was witnessing how well Mark interacted with us all, he listened and made everyone feel comfortable enough to share their experiences. 16
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
Next stop, Dundee. There was over 40 young people at this event. We watched two powerful videos made by young people on being care experienced and the stigma they face. Soon it was time to head back to Glasgow for our Carelidh. The Carelidh was the biggest event of the day and it brought 200 care experienced people together to celebrate. Every young person that came could invite someone who had a positive impact on their life. Mark was my guest as I know he is going to try his best to make a difference in all our lives.
Belfast
A group of young people from East Lothian supported by WC?S staff travelled to Belfast for a couple of days over the 17th to celebrate with our Northern Irish partner organisation VOYPIC. They had breakfast with Belfast Lord Mayor Alderman Brian Kingston (DUP) and took part in an event at the Northern Ireland Assembly Building at Stormont Castle. Friday night found them in Belfast City Hall where care experienced people came together for a celebratory Rokioke (Rock Music Karaoke) party night. Before the trip, East Lothian Champions Board Member Beth had said “I’m excited to be going on a plane for the first time and I’m excited about representing the Champs Board and meeting someone as important as the Mayor.”
y Cup a D e r a C e Th We held a football tournament in South Lanarkshire. Ten young people played in the tournament held in Hamilton. Jon with cup Ally Dawson Jon with ball The event was also attended by Ally Dawson, ex-Rangers player from the 80’s who came along to help out. A big thank you to all the young people who came and to Ally and David at Street Soccer who helped make the event possible.
Kibble
This year we celebrated Care Day by getting together and reflecting on the positive aspects of being in care, and what opportunities being in care provides for young people. We created a lovely canvas with hand prints touching to symbolise relationships which were important to the young people and a tree surrounded with things young people felt were positives about being in care.
Celebrating on the Island Ashleigh MacDonald (21)
We used Care Day to make sure that the Western Isles Council really understand what it means to be in care and what WC?S do to help. We started off with having opening speeches from Alison, the local APW, and the head of education. As an ice breaker each person had to say their name, job title and their favourite childhood memories. Then me and Megan shared our care stories. We talked about the Care Council and Summer Camp. We also made a YouTube video about the services available for young care experienced people.
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
17
18 W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
Young Radicals (Glasgow, Fortnightly) Care experienced young people from all over cent ral Scotland meet to think criti cally and shape real change in th e care system and wider world. Solidarity. Rights. Unity. Action. For more info cont act Euan G.
w Care2Create: Glasgo ightly) rtn (10-15 year olds, fo rning lea o Whether you’re int nt wa t jus a creative skill or d an n to try something fu for you! new, Care2Create is fed with ll We’ll keep you we excellent food too. t Euan G. For more info contac
Care2Create: Ayrshire (6-10 year olds) WC?S’s youngest group have been up to all sorts of fun and creative activities! Recently we’ve been trying out new themes at every session including fireworks and colour, the Rainforest and Chinese New Year! For more info contact Jemma.
Julie
Beth
Lynsey
Aberdeenshire Regular YPOC and LAC Factor gatherings with fun activity, film making, campaigning and a growing voice in the Champions Boa rd. For more info contact Lynne W.
Dundee Champions Board/YP PG (Dundee, fortnightly) The YPPG group celebrated Pancake Day by eating lots of pancakes of course! For more info call Cindy or Leah.
FAMILY group (Mussleburgh, every Tuesday) This group creates an atmosphere where young people feel accepted and a space where they belong. They also feed their discussions into the East Lothian Champions Board. For more info contact Lisa, Alicia or Sophie.
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
YPiCC (Edinburgh, every second Thu rsday) A fun group that tackles loc al issues while providing you ng people a chance to build relationshi ps. Recently YPICC went to Rat ho climbing centre to consult wit h the council about the cor por ate parenting action plan and had some fun climbing 20 or 30 feet! For more info contact Lesley -Ann or Ellie B.
pions Board Midlothian Cham second Monday) (Dalkeith, every an king on their pl Have been wor on what their missi for the year and due to meet with will be. They’re leader to start a local authority into action. putting that plan ll Jordan. For more info, ca
2BHeard (Across Fife , we There are th ekly) ree groups who meet across Fife , loads of st u ff come alon happening g an For more in d find out. fo call Rob yn.
East Lothian Champions Board (Musselburg h, every Thu rsday) Last week, th ey met with a Police ambassador to share the ir views on corporate p aren an action pla ting and to make n for the Lo thians. They are alw ays looking for new members to join the gro up! If you’d like to join, conta ct Beth A.
South Lanarkshire APW Ewan has now settled into the team and is working hard. South Lanarkshire have two groups running at present, the long-standing Foster Care group and the newly formed Care Leavers Group. Both group are always welcoming new members. For more info, contact Ewan or Lynne M.
Falkirk Champions Board (every 2 weeks) The Young Champions have met with the Care Inspectorate to share their experiences. We’ve also had a visit fro m John Finnie MSP for the Highlands & Islands who was loo king into how the Champions Board enga ged with local and natio nal Government. For more info call Ray.
Transformers group (Angus, fortn ightly) For more info contact Mel or Leah.
Laura
Shetland Sian is o ut and ab out in Sh bringing etlan you trips to th ng folk together, d, en e cinema and catch joying For more ing up. info give Sian a ca ll.
Euan
Aberdeen Champions Board (Every 2 – 3 months ) Young people and th eir corporate parent s are going to be ge together again to ma tting ke some amazing, po sitive change in Aber For more info, contac deen! t Laura Bailey.
Tayside Care2Create For more info contact Leah or Brooke.
Ferguslie under 10 ’s (every 2n d Wedne sday) For child ren in kin ship care or looked after at h o the Tann ahill Cen me at tre. For more info conta ct Julie. Inverclyd e Group (Gourock, every Wed ne Help us m ake care in sday) PHENOM ENAL! Th Inverclyde is group is led by the entirely young pe op Come alo ng if you’d le of Inverclyde. like to ma friends an ke de and intere ngage in all kinds of fun sting acti vities. For more info conta ct Nicole.
Foxbar Drop-In day) (every 2nd Mon le aged For young peop Youth ar 12-18 at Foxb Drop-In. ntact Julie. For more info co
Individuals Fun Young ) ry Monday h of (Perth, eve up is a vibrant bunc ro g kly on a The Perth meet wee o d h w le p s be greete young peo will alway u o Y y b t. h d e ig Monday n eal, follow e cooked m m r. o h a h it w nd laughte ies, chats a eather. it v H ti r c o a h n a fu tact Le n o c fo in For more
Moray trying The Moray group can be found out on the road with ing different activities from climbing to bowl regular monthly meetings at Elgin Youth Café. preThe Moray’s Champions Board had a successful and ary Febru launch with their corporate parents in are planning a residential in May. For more info contact Paula.
Leah
ACE (Aberdeen City, fortnightly) Young people from across Aberdeen City meet every food fortnight for heaps of FUN, on and putting Aberdeen back p! the ma For more info, contact Laura Bailey.
Ray
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Renfrewshire Champions Board If you live in the area and want to speak up about the issues that affect you. For more info contact Donal d.
Western Isles nders, a group The Young Isla ves Young Scot, gi supported by to ce an the ch 11-15 year olds es su is e ok at th meet up and lo . gs in br an island that living on p r grou There is anothe d re experience ca r fo especially n ee tw , aged be young people d. ol s 14-18 year p, for a 3rd grou an pl There is a er st Ea t after aiming to star lp support he holidays, to g are transitionin children who y ar ’s prim from the island ndary school. co se schools to . contact Alison For more info
Laurie
Highland Frequent group get-together s, lots of pizza, trips out and about and the chance to contribute to the Highland Champions Board – already changing Care in Highland for the better. We’re also starting up groups in Fort William, Skye and Cai thness and are looking at developing a local school cha mpions board in Mid-Ross. For more info contact Donna .
Regional Round-Up Brought to you by your Development Officers:
NEWS & EVENTS NEWS & EVENTS
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D 19
18 W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
Young Radicals (Glasgow, Fortnightly) Care experienced young people from all over cent ral Scotland meet to think criti cally and shape real change in th e care system and wider world. Solidarity. Rights. Unity. Action. For more info cont act Euan G.
w Care2Create: Glasgo ightly) rtn (10-15 year olds, fo rning lea o Whether you’re int nt wa t jus a creative skill or d an n to try something fu for you! new, Care2Create is fed with ll We’ll keep you we excellent food too. t Euan G. For more info contac
Care2Create: Ayrshire (6-10 year olds) WC?S’s youngest group have been up to all sorts of fun and creative activities! Recently we’ve been trying out new themes at every session including fireworks and colour, the Rainforest and Chinese New Year! For more info contact Jemma.
Julie
Beth
Lynsey
Aberdeenshire Regular YPOC and LAC Factor gatherings with fun activity, film making, campaigning and a growing voice in the Champions Boa rd. For more info contact Lynne W.
Dundee Champions Board/YP PG (Dundee, fortnightly) The YPPG group celebrated Pancake Day by eating lots of pancakes of course! For more info call Cindy or Leah.
FAMILY group (Mussleburgh, every Tuesday) This group creates an atmosphere where young people feel accepted and a space where they belong. They also feed their discussions into the East Lothian Champions Board. For more info contact Lisa, Alicia or Sophie.
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
YPiCC (Edinburgh, every second Thu rsday) A fun group that tackles loc al issues while providing you ng people a chance to build relationshi ps. Recently YPICC went to Rat ho climbing centre to consult wit h the council about the cor por ate parenting action plan and had some fun climbing 20 or 30 feet! For more info contact Lesley -Ann or Ellie B.
pions Board Midlothian Cham second Monday) (Dalkeith, every an king on their pl Have been wor on what their missi for the year and due to meet with will be. They’re leader to start a local authority into action. putting that plan ll Jordan. For more info, ca
2BHeard (Across Fife , we There are th ekly) ree groups who meet across Fife , loads of st u ff come alon happening g an For more in d find out. fo call Rob yn.
East Lothian Champions Board (Musselburg h, every Thu rsday) Last week, th ey met with a Police ambassador to share the ir views on corporate p aren an action pla ting and to make n for the Lo thians. They are alw ays looking for new members to join the gro up! If you’d like to join, conta ct Beth A.
South Lanarkshire APW Ewan has now settled into the team and is working hard. South Lanarkshire have two groups running at present, the long-standing Foster Care group and the newly formed Care Leavers Group. Both group are always welcoming new members. For more info, contact Ewan or Lynne M.
Falkirk Champions Board (every 2 weeks) The Young Champions have met with the Care Inspectorate to share their experiences. We’ve also had a visit fro m John Finnie MSP for the Highlands & Islands who was loo king into how the Champions Board enga ged with local and natio nal Government. For more info call Ray.
Transformers group (Angus, fortn ightly) For more info contact Mel or Leah.
Laura
Shetland Sian is o ut and ab out in Sh bringing etlan you trips to th ng folk together, d, en e cinema and catch joying For more ing up. info give Sian a ca ll.
Euan
Aberdeen Champions Board (Every 2 – 3 months ) Young people and th eir corporate parent s are going to be ge together again to ma tting ke some amazing, po sitive change in Aber For more info, contac deen! t Laura Bailey.
Tayside Care2Create For more info contact Leah or Brooke.
Ferguslie under 10 ’s (every 2n d Wedne sday) For child ren in kin ship care or looked after at h o the Tann ahill Cen me at tre. For more info conta ct Julie. Inverclyd e Group (Gourock, every Wed ne Help us m ake care in sday) PHENOM ENAL! Th Inverclyde is group is led by the entirely young pe op Come alo ng if you’d le of Inverclyde. like to ma friends an ke de and intere ngage in all kinds of fun sting acti vities. For more info conta ct Nicole.
Foxbar Drop-In day) (every 2nd Mon le aged For young peop Youth ar 12-18 at Foxb Drop-In. ntact Julie. For more info co
Individuals Fun Young ) ry Monday h of (Perth, eve up is a vibrant bunc ro g kly on a The Perth meet wee o d h w le p s be greete young peo will alway u o Y y b t. h d e ig Monday n eal, follow e cooked m m r. o h a h it w nd laughte ies, chats a eather. it v H ti r c o a h n a fu tact Le n o c fo in For more
Moray trying The Moray group can be found out on the road with ing different activities from climbing to bowl regular monthly meetings at Elgin Youth Café. preThe Moray’s Champions Board had a successful and ary Febru launch with their corporate parents in are planning a residential in May. For more info contact Paula.
Leah
ACE (Aberdeen City, fortnightly) Young people from across Aberdeen City meet every food fortnight for heaps of FUN, on and putting Aberdeen back p! the ma For more info, contact Laura Bailey.
Ray
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Renfrewshire Champions Board If you live in the area and want to speak up about the issues that affect you. For more info contact Donal d.
Western Isles nders, a group The Young Isla ves Young Scot, gi supported by to ce an the ch 11-15 year olds es su is e ok at th meet up and lo . gs in br an island that living on p r grou There is anothe d re experience ca r fo especially n ee tw , aged be young people d. ol s 14-18 year p, for a 3rd grou an pl There is a er st Ea t after aiming to star lp support he holidays, to g are transitionin children who y ar ’s prim from the island ndary school. co se schools to . contact Alison For more info
Laurie
Highland Frequent group get-together s, lots of pizza, trips out and about and the chance to contribute to the Highland Champions Board – already changing Care in Highland for the better. We’re also starting up groups in Fort William, Skye and Cai thness and are looking at developing a local school cha mpions board in Mid-Ross. For more info contact Donna .
Regional Round-Up Brought to you by your Development Officers:
NEWS & EVENTS NEWS & EVENTS
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D 19
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
m l i F s p m Cha
d r a o B ’ s n o i p m a h C s n a i h t o L t Eas
E
ast Lothian’s Champions’ Board have created a film about their school experiences. The 8-minute film raises awareness about what it’s like to be in care and gives advice to teachers about the importance of positive relationships.
The idea to make the film ‘Experts in Care’ came a few months ago when the champions were discussing their Education Priority and were wondering how to they could tell all the teachers in the local area what they think would make school better for care experienced young people. They went to Queen Margaret University and spoke to Graham Drysdale, a lecturer in film who said he would be happy to help. Some of the young people were keen to be in front of the camera and tell their stories while others helped Graham with the sound. About his experience working with the champions, Graham said “I was very moved by their stories and it was insightful to hear about both their negative and positive experiences of education. I learned mostly, that young people just want teachers to spend time with them - finding out about their lives and
20
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
understanding them.” Last month, Tony and Chloe took the film to a conference with all the head teachers from all the schools in East Lothian. They spoke about the Champions Board and showed the film. Everybody was moved with one head teacher saying it was “honest, powerful and important” and another saying it was a “really powerful message for all staff – giving children and young people in care a voice, making them not a statistic but a person.” Next month Tony and Chloe are showing the film to all the primary school teachers in East Lothian. Leah, one of the East Lothian Champions explained “Making the film was good ‘cause it’s coming from care experienced people rather than professionals”. Young people in East Lothian have had this idea at the heart of what they do - influencing policy and services for care experienced young people. They are
now working with Queen Margaret University to make a similar film about housing and accommodation for care leavers in East Lothian.
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
MEET YOUR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT Chelsea Ely (21) is one of our new Development Assistants based in Glasgow. Chelsea lives in Dumbarton and has a little girl named Charlie. Chelsea has written this article to tell SpeakOut’s readers about the Reaching Higher pre-employment course which helped her get her job with Who Cares? Scotland.
I
t was my Who Cares? Scotland Advocate, Beth, who first told me about the Reaching Higher Preemployment course. It sounded like a great opportunity so I attended an information session where we got told more about the course and we heard from people who had completed the course and how they had found it. There were 10 Jobs available from 3 organisations and out of those 10 I was interested in a Development Assistant one and Who Cares? Scotland. The course was 5 weeks long and I loved it as I got to meet lots of different people. I used to stay with one of the boys who was also on the course and it was great to spend time with him. During the course we did a scavenger hunt, where we got split up into groups and had a list of things we had to find in Glasgow city centre, this was meant to show our resourcefulness. It was hard but fun too. We then had to do a presentation in front of the 3 potential employers which was pretty nerve wracking. The last thing we did was go on a 2 day residential which was challenging for everyone, as it took us out of our comfort zone. One of the activities involved cutting down trees, which was fun but harder than it looked, but for each tree we cut down we planted another to keep the forest sustainable. We had to make our own food which was a total nightmare as there was only a little hob and it took ages but we managed!
Chelsea and her Advocate Beth.
On the last day of our course we submitted our job applications and had our last meal together as a group. Then the waiting game began. A week later I got a phone call telling me I had an interview. I was excited but also nervous. On the morning of the interview I was up really early as I couldn’t sleep. After the interview I felt like I had done really well and was pleased with the answers I gave so now I just had to wait and see. I got the phone call the next morning telling me I had got the job and my start date. To be honest I was so scared so I phoned my advocate, who has been a massive part of my life. When I told her, she said she was proud of me and that made my
day, not only had I got an amazing job, I had also made one of the most important people in my life proud. I’ve been doing my job for 3 months now and already I’ve been involved with lots of cool things like consultations about family trees, national care standards and corporate parents. I have also led an ice breaker at one of our regular groups. One of the most memorable things was attending a Care Council residential where I met some inspirational people and got to listen to their stories. I can’t wait to meet more of you amazing people. In my life I’ve been told that I wouldn’t achieve anything but now I have a great job, because people believed in me but most importantly because I believed in myself. Make sure you believe in yourself! W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
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NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
m l i F s p m Cha
d r a o B ’ s n o i p m a h C s n a i h t o L t Eas
E
ast Lothian’s Champions’ Board have created a film about their school experiences. The 8-minute film raises awareness about what it’s like to be in care and gives advice to teachers about the importance of positive relationships.
The idea to make the film ‘Experts in Care’ came a few months ago when the champions were discussing their Education Priority and were wondering how to they could tell all the teachers in the local area what they think would make school better for care experienced young people. They went to Queen Margaret University and spoke to Graham Drysdale, a lecturer in film who said he would be happy to help. Some of the young people were keen to be in front of the camera and tell their stories while others helped Graham with the sound. About his experience working with the champions, Graham said “I was very moved by their stories and it was insightful to hear about both their negative and positive experiences of education. I learned mostly, that young people just want teachers to spend time with them - finding out about their lives and
20
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
understanding them.” Last month, Tony and Chloe took the film to a conference with all the head teachers from all the schools in East Lothian. They spoke about the Champions Board and showed the film. Everybody was moved with one head teacher saying it was “honest, powerful and important” and another saying it was a “really powerful message for all staff – giving children and young people in care a voice, making them not a statistic but a person.” Next month Tony and Chloe are showing the film to all the primary school teachers in East Lothian. Leah, one of the East Lothian Champions explained “Making the film was good ‘cause it’s coming from care experienced people rather than professionals”. Young people in East Lothian have had this idea at the heart of what they do - influencing policy and services for care experienced young people. They are
now working with Queen Margaret University to make a similar film about housing and accommodation for care leavers in East Lothian.
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
MEET YOUR DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT Chelsea Ely (21) is one of our new Development Assistants based in Glasgow. Chelsea lives in Dumbarton and has a little girl named Charlie. Chelsea has written this article to tell SpeakOut’s readers about the Reaching Higher pre-employment course which helped her get her job with Who Cares? Scotland.
I
t was my Who Cares? Scotland Advocate, Beth, who first told me about the Reaching Higher Preemployment course. It sounded like a great opportunity so I attended an information session where we got told more about the course and we heard from people who had completed the course and how they had found it. There were 10 Jobs available from 3 organisations and out of those 10 I was interested in a Development Assistant one and Who Cares? Scotland. The course was 5 weeks long and I loved it as I got to meet lots of different people. I used to stay with one of the boys who was also on the course and it was great to spend time with him. During the course we did a scavenger hunt, where we got split up into groups and had a list of things we had to find in Glasgow city centre, this was meant to show our resourcefulness. It was hard but fun too. We then had to do a presentation in front of the 3 potential employers which was pretty nerve wracking. The last thing we did was go on a 2 day residential which was challenging for everyone, as it took us out of our comfort zone. One of the activities involved cutting down trees, which was fun but harder than it looked, but for each tree we cut down we planted another to keep the forest sustainable. We had to make our own food which was a total nightmare as there was only a little hob and it took ages but we managed!
Chelsea and her Advocate Beth.
On the last day of our course we submitted our job applications and had our last meal together as a group. Then the waiting game began. A week later I got a phone call telling me I had an interview. I was excited but also nervous. On the morning of the interview I was up really early as I couldn’t sleep. After the interview I felt like I had done really well and was pleased with the answers I gave so now I just had to wait and see. I got the phone call the next morning telling me I had got the job and my start date. To be honest I was so scared so I phoned my advocate, who has been a massive part of my life. When I told her, she said she was proud of me and that made my
day, not only had I got an amazing job, I had also made one of the most important people in my life proud. I’ve been doing my job for 3 months now and already I’ve been involved with lots of cool things like consultations about family trees, national care standards and corporate parents. I have also led an ice breaker at one of our regular groups. One of the most memorable things was attending a Care Council residential where I met some inspirational people and got to listen to their stories. I can’t wait to meet more of you amazing people. In my life I’ve been told that I wouldn’t achieve anything but now I have a great job, because people believed in me but most importantly because I believed in myself. Make sure you believe in yourself! W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
21
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS:
Malcolm X
Kieran gives us a new angle on famous figures, who you may or may not have known were in fact care experienced, their achievements and why he finds them inspiring.
M
O
n the 8th of March it was International Women’s Day. A day of the year when women celebrate our achievements, and stand up for change. It gave me the amazing opportunity to talk about what it means to be a young woman who’s grown up in care, and encourage others to do the same. Growing up in care, I feel like I was robbed of a strong female figure, that others have in the form of a mum, aunty, or gran, so I never got any guidance when it came to developing into a young woman. This lack of female role models impacts young women in the care system in lots of different ways, often, we feel unloved and rejected, which sometimes leads us to forge dangerous relationships to try and fill the gap. I want to help girls avoid going down these unsafe paths. As women, we need to look out for one another, and call out unfair or dangerous situations when we see them. The lack of a female role model in my life meant that I didn’t have anyone to celebrate my successes with, or anyone to comfort me when I failed. I believe if young women had a constant female role model, then the outcomes wouldn’t be so poor. Having someone there to turn to about relationships, your body, or how to navigate the world as a girl, would make a huge difference. Who Cares? Scotland marked International Women’s day with a women’s heritage walk in Glasgow. Helping us fully 22
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
appreciate the lengths women went to historically to achieve equality, and what they have contributed to our amazing city. I walked to mark the inspiring and brave work women are doing globally to achieve equal rights, and to create fairer societies. It’s important to pay tribute to those who fought against discrimination, violence and created equal opportunities for women. Women have not always shared the same rights, and in many respects still don’t. I wanted to celebrate the women who have fought for progress, but not forget the inequality that still happens within our society. This is particularly important for care experienced women, who deal with the stigma of their care experience, on top of the inequality of being a woman in society today. I want all care experienced young women to be empowered, and challenge inequality in the care system by sharing their stories. Nicola Sturgeon is one of the most influential female role models who shapes greater change for women in Scotland. She’s pledged to listen to 1000 care experienced voices. I see this as an amazing opportunity for young women to speak up about their experiences and let their voices finally be heard. That way, we’ll have a care system that reflects the experiences of the young women it needs to support, to be happy, healthy and empowered members of society.
, Carly Telford istant ss A n o i t a p i c Parti
alcolm Little, later known as Malcolm X, was an African-American man who in his lifetime would come to represent a movement of change, the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. A movement which took place in a country, where despite their constitution including the phrase “All men are created equal”, this seemed only to apply to those with white skin. Born in New York in the mid-1920s, one of seven children, by the time Malcolm was a teenager his father was dead, his mother committed to an insane asylum and he and his siblings were separated into different foster homes all over the country. Brilliantly clever he excelled in his early education despite the difficult home life he endured, aiming to become a lawyer and free his mother from the asylum. Malcolm let this dream go and dropped out of school when a teacher told him that the colour of his skin meant he would never achieve anything. Malcolm started working odd jobs but eventually turning to petty and later more serious crime to support himself, he was to spend almost a decade in detention centres. By the time of his release in the 1950s, American society was fast approaching a tipping point. The American Civil Rights Movement aimed to create an equal society, one without racial segregation and discrimination against the African-American population where they received the same rights, protection and recognition under the law as all others. Malcolm X helped define the fringes of that movement, he was often seen as a more violent Martin Luther King, the Magneto to MLK’s Professor X if you’re into your comic book references. Malcolm rallied the black population, especially the younger demographic, to his side with his view that if the Government would not listen they would make them and that if the people would not accept them they would make them. They weren’t giving them a choice anymore a voice had been found and it would not be quieted. That was Malcolm X’s appeal. To think that all this was happening just 66 years ago; it was illegal in almost every state for a white man or woman to marry a black man or woman;
for black children to attend the same schools as their white peers; for black people to drink from the same water fountains; ride on the same buses; eat in the same restaurants or to shop in the same stores. Over the next several decades many of these laws would be challenged and abolished but the last of these laws was not actively repealed until the year 2000, four years after my birth and many years after the death of Malcolm X himself. Assassinated in February of 1965 Malcolm X became a martyr and an enduring symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. His autobiography became one of the most important non-fiction works of the era, his likeness hangs in classrooms, dorm rooms, homes, colleges and universities across the United States. The care experienced boy from New York, who lost everyone and everything, who was told by the society he lived in that he was less than, and yet became one of the most important figures in modern American history.
Kieran McWhirter
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
23
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS:
Malcolm X
Kieran gives us a new angle on famous figures, who you may or may not have known were in fact care experienced, their achievements and why he finds them inspiring.
M
O
n the 8th of March it was International Women’s Day. A day of the year when women celebrate our achievements, and stand up for change. It gave me the amazing opportunity to talk about what it means to be a young woman who’s grown up in care, and encourage others to do the same. Growing up in care, I feel like I was robbed of a strong female figure, that others have in the form of a mum, aunty, or gran, so I never got any guidance when it came to developing into a young woman. This lack of female role models impacts young women in the care system in lots of different ways, often, we feel unloved and rejected, which sometimes leads us to forge dangerous relationships to try and fill the gap. I want to help girls avoid going down these unsafe paths. As women, we need to look out for one another, and call out unfair or dangerous situations when we see them. The lack of a female role model in my life meant that I didn’t have anyone to celebrate my successes with, or anyone to comfort me when I failed. I believe if young women had a constant female role model, then the outcomes wouldn’t be so poor. Having someone there to turn to about relationships, your body, or how to navigate the world as a girl, would make a huge difference. Who Cares? Scotland marked International Women’s day with a women’s heritage walk in Glasgow. Helping us fully 22
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
appreciate the lengths women went to historically to achieve equality, and what they have contributed to our amazing city. I walked to mark the inspiring and brave work women are doing globally to achieve equal rights, and to create fairer societies. It’s important to pay tribute to those who fought against discrimination, violence and created equal opportunities for women. Women have not always shared the same rights, and in many respects still don’t. I wanted to celebrate the women who have fought for progress, but not forget the inequality that still happens within our society. This is particularly important for care experienced women, who deal with the stigma of their care experience, on top of the inequality of being a woman in society today. I want all care experienced young women to be empowered, and challenge inequality in the care system by sharing their stories. Nicola Sturgeon is one of the most influential female role models who shapes greater change for women in Scotland. She’s pledged to listen to 1000 care experienced voices. I see this as an amazing opportunity for young women to speak up about their experiences and let their voices finally be heard. That way, we’ll have a care system that reflects the experiences of the young women it needs to support, to be happy, healthy and empowered members of society.
, Carly Telford istant ss A n o i t a p i c Parti
alcolm Little, later known as Malcolm X, was an African-American man who in his lifetime would come to represent a movement of change, the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. A movement which took place in a country, where despite their constitution including the phrase “All men are created equal”, this seemed only to apply to those with white skin. Born in New York in the mid-1920s, one of seven children, by the time Malcolm was a teenager his father was dead, his mother committed to an insane asylum and he and his siblings were separated into different foster homes all over the country. Brilliantly clever he excelled in his early education despite the difficult home life he endured, aiming to become a lawyer and free his mother from the asylum. Malcolm let this dream go and dropped out of school when a teacher told him that the colour of his skin meant he would never achieve anything. Malcolm started working odd jobs but eventually turning to petty and later more serious crime to support himself, he was to spend almost a decade in detention centres. By the time of his release in the 1950s, American society was fast approaching a tipping point. The American Civil Rights Movement aimed to create an equal society, one without racial segregation and discrimination against the African-American population where they received the same rights, protection and recognition under the law as all others. Malcolm X helped define the fringes of that movement, he was often seen as a more violent Martin Luther King, the Magneto to MLK’s Professor X if you’re into your comic book references. Malcolm rallied the black population, especially the younger demographic, to his side with his view that if the Government would not listen they would make them and that if the people would not accept them they would make them. They weren’t giving them a choice anymore a voice had been found and it would not be quieted. That was Malcolm X’s appeal. To think that all this was happening just 66 years ago; it was illegal in almost every state for a white man or woman to marry a black man or woman;
for black children to attend the same schools as their white peers; for black people to drink from the same water fountains; ride on the same buses; eat in the same restaurants or to shop in the same stores. Over the next several decades many of these laws would be challenged and abolished but the last of these laws was not actively repealed until the year 2000, four years after my birth and many years after the death of Malcolm X himself. Assassinated in February of 1965 Malcolm X became a martyr and an enduring symbol of the Civil Rights Movement. His autobiography became one of the most important non-fiction works of the era, his likeness hangs in classrooms, dorm rooms, homes, colleges and universities across the United States. The care experienced boy from New York, who lost everyone and everything, who was told by the society he lived in that he was less than, and yet became one of the most important figures in modern American history.
Kieran McWhirter
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
23
What’s HOT
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
& What’s NOT
In a Bind Resident gamer, Charlie McFarlane, trials and reviews games - from the well-known to the obscure, from card games to computer games. Want to know how to keep yourself entertained? Keep reading! Do you and your friends ever find yourselves with a spare 10-15 minutes and nothing to do? Well why not try this super awesome game that I have been playing called In a Bind. • 3-10 players • Object of the game: Follow the instructions on your selected cards (yes, it’s that simple!) • How to win: Be the last person left in the game. You’re out when you can longer follow the instructions on your cards It will test your skill, balance but most of all your patience. “What makes this game fun?” you may ask, well think about the game Twister now imagine it with cards instead of a mat and you can play it standing up, sitting down or even on the bus and that’s pretty much In a Bind in a nutshell! When I’ve played it with my friends, it was amazing quicks rounds of people looking hilarious, as they try to pick up their next card whilst having 3 on their face plus trying to keep their ear on the table and still hold other cards between their arms and shoulders. It’s such a good laugh, easy to understand and just so much fun. I’d recommend it to anyone and am
24
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
FILM REVIEW:
Best Characters:
Moana
personally always up for a game. • Price: £9 in most places so very good value for money and is literally a deck of cards which you can take anywhere.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
4
Moana wasn’t too girly, she was brave and adventurous, not scared, she broke the rules to follow her heart.
We went to see Moana for our Transformers group Christmas night out.
Maui was funny and vain but knew what he was doing. He was brave and fought the lava monster and giant singing crab.
The best bits: The snacks! Sweet and salty popcorn! The chicken who wouldn’t die, he reminded us of Skrat from Ice Age the movie.
Everyone will love the chicken!
Plot: Monana has to follow her family story and work out the family secrets. She has to go past the reef and discover who she really is.
“It is a fun film which will suit any age, adults will enjoy it too!”
Alfie – ‘If I was a Demi God I would turn into a fish so I can live underwater”
CHARLOTTE ALFIE RS A ST 5 OUT OF 5 STARS 4 OUT OF 5
Charlotte – “If I was a Demi God I would be a cheetah and be the fastest in the world”
Prize givea w
Charlotte, 12
Alfie, 13
5
4
ay:
To be in wit h a chance of winning a copy of In a B ind, send in sug gestions of games for Charlie to review. C harlie says “Any o ther games y ou would like me to chec k out, wheth er it be boa rd games or v ideo game s, just email me a t cmcfarlan e@ whocaress cotland.org ”
Let the games begin .
Seeing Moana inspired Charlotte and Alfie to do some drawings of the film. Aren’t they beautiful?
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
25
What’s HOT
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
& What’s NOT
In a Bind Resident gamer, Charlie McFarlane, trials and reviews games - from the well-known to the obscure, from card games to computer games. Want to know how to keep yourself entertained? Keep reading! Do you and your friends ever find yourselves with a spare 10-15 minutes and nothing to do? Well why not try this super awesome game that I have been playing called In a Bind. • 3-10 players • Object of the game: Follow the instructions on your selected cards (yes, it’s that simple!) • How to win: Be the last person left in the game. You’re out when you can longer follow the instructions on your cards It will test your skill, balance but most of all your patience. “What makes this game fun?” you may ask, well think about the game Twister now imagine it with cards instead of a mat and you can play it standing up, sitting down or even on the bus and that’s pretty much In a Bind in a nutshell! When I’ve played it with my friends, it was amazing quicks rounds of people looking hilarious, as they try to pick up their next card whilst having 3 on their face plus trying to keep their ear on the table and still hold other cards between their arms and shoulders. It’s such a good laugh, easy to understand and just so much fun. I’d recommend it to anyone and am
24
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
FILM REVIEW:
Best Characters:
Moana
personally always up for a game. • Price: £9 in most places so very good value for money and is literally a deck of cards which you can take anywhere.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
4
Moana wasn’t too girly, she was brave and adventurous, not scared, she broke the rules to follow her heart.
We went to see Moana for our Transformers group Christmas night out.
Maui was funny and vain but knew what he was doing. He was brave and fought the lava monster and giant singing crab.
The best bits: The snacks! Sweet and salty popcorn! The chicken who wouldn’t die, he reminded us of Skrat from Ice Age the movie.
Everyone will love the chicken!
Plot: Monana has to follow her family story and work out the family secrets. She has to go past the reef and discover who she really is.
“It is a fun film which will suit any age, adults will enjoy it too!”
Alfie – ‘If I was a Demi God I would turn into a fish so I can live underwater”
CHARLOTTE ALFIE RS A ST 5 OUT OF 5 STARS 4 OUT OF 5
Charlotte – “If I was a Demi God I would be a cheetah and be the fastest in the world”
Prize givea w
Charlotte, 12
Alfie, 13
5
4
ay:
To be in wit h a chance of winning a copy of In a B ind, send in sug gestions of games for Charlie to review. C harlie says “Any o ther games y ou would like me to chec k out, wheth er it be boa rd games or v ideo game s, just email me a t cmcfarlan e@ whocaress cotland.org ”
Let the games begin .
Seeing Moana inspired Charlotte and Alfie to do some drawings of the film. Aren’t they beautiful?
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
25
NEWS & EVENTS
g n i t i r W Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Competition Could you be a winning writer? There’s a fantastic competition open to care experienced young people in Scotland. Who Cares? Scotland, CELCIS, The Scottish Book Trust and the Edinburgh International Book Festival have teamed up to celebrate the talent of care experienced young people. You’ll be in with the chance of winning an unforgettable trip to the Harry Potter Experience with an overnight stay in London! And we’ve loads of other exciting prizes too.
To enter, all you have do is write an original story or poem, of up to 500 words. The theme is ‘random moments’. There are a few ways you can enter; by post, cut out and complete the entry form and enclose it alongside your poem or story and post it to us at WC?S 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow, G1 4QR or give it to your advocacy worker. There is a digital form which you could download from www.celcis.org, fill it in and attach it to an email, alongside your poem or story and email it to getwritein@strath.ac.uk. The writing must be your own work. The deadline is 15th June 2017. There are two age categories, under 12 and 12-18, there is one top prize in each category.
: 1st PROIZTE HE
A TRIP T ER HARRY POTT ON ND O L N I O I D U T S
The winners and highly commended entries will be announced at a special event during the Edinburgh International Book Festival on the 15th August. National Poet, Jackie Kay, will be among the panel of judges who’ll be reading your terrific tales. She says “tell us about a random moment, an unexpected surprise, a moment that was a turning point, a fork in the road, or one captured by a photograph. Write a poem or a story in your own voice or the voice of a character. Seize the moment! Get Write In.” If you’d like advice about your writing or help with entering the competition, speak to a teacher, your Who Cares? Advocacy and Participation worker or another adult.
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Rules of the competition:
6. There two age categories for the competition: under 12 years old and 12 to 18 years old.
Please read carefully before you submit your entry.
7. By submitting your entry you automatically accept the Terms & Conditions.
1. The competition opens on 28 March 2017 and close on 15 June 2017 at 17.00.
You can read the full terms and conditions on www.celcis.org where you can also find the entry form – or you can cut out and complete the entry form below. If you have any problems with submitting your entry or would like to talk to someone about the competition please contact Maria Rendall, getwritein@strath.ac.uk and 0141 444 8528.
2. You should have current or past experience of care. 3. You can write up to 500 words. 4. The theme for the competition is ‘random moments’. 5. You can only submit one entry and the entry needs to be your own work.
Competition entry form Local authority which looks after you .. ............................
First Name .........................................................................
............................................................................................
Surname Name . . ................................................................
Title of my piece of writing ..............................................
Age on 15 June 2017 .. .......................................................
............................................................................................
Address ..............................................................................
............................................................................................
Word count ........................................................................
............................................................................................ Email address ....................................................................
I am happy for my writing to be published in associated printed or online media
Name of Who Cares? Scotland worker, if you have one
I understand that the organisers cannot return my writing so I should keep a copy
............................................................................................
How did you hear about the competition?.......................
OR Details of social worker, foster carer, residential worker or teacher we can contact
............................................................................................
Name . . ................................................................................
Signature............................................................................
Phone number . . .................................................................
Date . . . . . . . / . . . . . . . /. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address ..............................................................................
[If under 16] Signature of supporting adult; name; date.
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................ ............................................................................................
Email .................................................................................. 26
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
This is my own work
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
27
NEWS & EVENTS
g n i t i r W Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Competition Could you be a winning writer? There’s a fantastic competition open to care experienced young people in Scotland. Who Cares? Scotland, CELCIS, The Scottish Book Trust and the Edinburgh International Book Festival have teamed up to celebrate the talent of care experienced young people. You’ll be in with the chance of winning an unforgettable trip to the Harry Potter Experience with an overnight stay in London! And we’ve loads of other exciting prizes too.
To enter, all you have do is write an original story or poem, of up to 500 words. The theme is ‘random moments’. There are a few ways you can enter; by post, cut out and complete the entry form and enclose it alongside your poem or story and post it to us at WC?S 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow, G1 4QR or give it to your advocacy worker. There is a digital form which you could download from www.celcis.org, fill it in and attach it to an email, alongside your poem or story and email it to getwritein@strath.ac.uk. The writing must be your own work. The deadline is 15th June 2017. There are two age categories, under 12 and 12-18, there is one top prize in each category.
: 1st PROIZTE HE
A TRIP T ER HARRY POTT ON ND O L N I O I D U T S
The winners and highly commended entries will be announced at a special event during the Edinburgh International Book Festival on the 15th August. National Poet, Jackie Kay, will be among the panel of judges who’ll be reading your terrific tales. She says “tell us about a random moment, an unexpected surprise, a moment that was a turning point, a fork in the road, or one captured by a photograph. Write a poem or a story in your own voice or the voice of a character. Seize the moment! Get Write In.” If you’d like advice about your writing or help with entering the competition, speak to a teacher, your Who Cares? Advocacy and Participation worker or another adult.
NEWS & EVENTS
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
Rules of the competition:
6. There two age categories for the competition: under 12 years old and 12 to 18 years old.
Please read carefully before you submit your entry.
7. By submitting your entry you automatically accept the Terms & Conditions.
1. The competition opens on 28 March 2017 and close on 15 June 2017 at 17.00.
You can read the full terms and conditions on www.celcis.org where you can also find the entry form – or you can cut out and complete the entry form below. If you have any problems with submitting your entry or would like to talk to someone about the competition please contact Maria Rendall, getwritein@strath.ac.uk and 0141 444 8528.
2. You should have current or past experience of care. 3. You can write up to 500 words. 4. The theme for the competition is ‘random moments’. 5. You can only submit one entry and the entry needs to be your own work.
Competition entry form Local authority which looks after you .. ............................
First Name .........................................................................
............................................................................................
Surname Name . . ................................................................
Title of my piece of writing ..............................................
Age on 15 June 2017 .. .......................................................
............................................................................................
Address ..............................................................................
............................................................................................
Word count ........................................................................
............................................................................................ Email address ....................................................................
I am happy for my writing to be published in associated printed or online media
Name of Who Cares? Scotland worker, if you have one
I understand that the organisers cannot return my writing so I should keep a copy
............................................................................................
How did you hear about the competition?.......................
OR Details of social worker, foster carer, residential worker or teacher we can contact
............................................................................................
Name . . ................................................................................
Signature............................................................................
Phone number . . .................................................................
Date . . . . . . . / . . . . . . . /. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address ..............................................................................
[If under 16] Signature of supporting adult; name; date.
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................
............................................................................................ ............................................................................................
Email .................................................................................. 26
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
This is my own work
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
27
NEWS & EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
IN IT TO WIN IT… O
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, 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow, G1 4QR by Friday 9th June 2017 to be in with a chance of winning a £20 voucher of your choice.
Word Scramble Puzzle Flowers
Match the animals with their babies! Rabbit
Frog
Chicken
Swan
Horse
Goat
! g n u r p S as H Spring I C A A S L O O F L I R P A G R E T S A E M O S S O L B
IPLUT
H O T G B L A M B L D H L F
HYNI HTCA Kid
Chick
Foal
Kit
Cygnet
Spot the difference
Tadpole
Can you find the 5 differences?
YIASD
P H S T D N U N E S O I L I L I M P I O S N E S R O L M A C A N A N F L D E E N N B N K P O R B G F S N W N H O
Q: I’m light as a fe ather, yet the strongest man can’t hold me for more than 5 minutes. What am I?
AGE: PHONE: WC?S WORKER:
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
N R H R O T D E R D H L L O D C S I E I D D S H U O F L
Q: Lisa’s Mum had four children. The first was called April, the se cond was May, and the third was June. What was th e name of the fourth child ?
YOUR NAME:
I F L O W E R S A I S S S I O E L A D C G N E D R A G F
Riddles
28
JUST FOR FUN… A W S F F H E N I H S N U S
ELFN USRO W
DFLD OIFA
NEWS & EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
T S E H W O R G A G E O W O HHHHHHHH
S L H N O Y S I A D R E S D H
H LAST ISSUES WIN NERS ARE: £20 Vouc
hers - Jodie Smith, 16 • Tom Reid, 17 Abbie Rogan, 13 • Jun ior Homer, 13 • Gemm a Harkness, 9
HHHHHHHH
HH
APRILFOOLS SOIL NESTING LAMB
DAFFODIL BLOSSOM SUNSHINE FLOWERS
EASTER CHICK SEEDS DAISY
PLANTS GARDEN GROW
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
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NEWS & EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
IN IT TO WIN IT… O
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, 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow, G1 4QR by Friday 9th June 2017 to be in with a chance of winning a £20 voucher of your choice.
Word Scramble Puzzle Flowers
Match the animals with their babies! Rabbit
Frog
Chicken
Swan
Horse
Goat
! g n u r p S as H Spring I C A A S L O O F L I R P A G R E T S A E M O S S O L B
IPLUT
H O T G B L A M B L D H L F
HYNI HTCA Kid
Chick
Foal
Kit
Cygnet
Spot the difference
Tadpole
Can you find the 5 differences?
YIASD
P H S T D N U N E S O I L I L I M P I O S N E S R O L M A C A N A N F L D E E N N B N K P O R B G F S N W N H O
Q: I’m light as a fe ather, yet the strongest man can’t hold me for more than 5 minutes. What am I?
AGE: PHONE: WC?S WORKER:
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
N R H R O T D E R D H L L O D C S I E I D D S H U O F L
Q: Lisa’s Mum had four children. The first was called April, the se cond was May, and the third was June. What was th e name of the fourth child ?
YOUR NAME:
I F L O W E R S A I S S S I O E L A D C G N E D R A G F
Riddles
28
JUST FOR FUN… A W S F F H E N I H S N U S
ELFN USRO W
DFLD OIFA
NEWS & EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
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S L H N O Y S I A D R E S D H
H LAST ISSUES WIN NERS ARE: £20 Vouc
hers - Jodie Smith, 16 • Tom Reid, 17 Abbie Rogan, 13 • Jun ior Homer, 13 • Gemm a Harkness, 9
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APRILFOOLS SOIL NESTING LAMB
DAFFODIL BLOSSOM SUNSHINE FLOWERS
EASTER CHICK SEEDS DAISY
PLANTS GARDEN GROW
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
29
NEWS & EVENTS SO JUNIOR
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
5 Stars for Five Guys Lots of yummy food at Five Guys in Dundee
O
n Tuesday 7th March Dominic and Candy took a trip to Five Guys in Dundee. Dominic couldn’t decide whether to go for a normal sized cheeseburger or the little one but following the advice of the guy serving we chose the little burgers, as it only had one beef burger whereas the normal one has two beef burgers. We ordered fries and a refill of juice along with a tub of tomato ketchup. We planned on having one of Five Guys amazing shakes as our desert but we were too full, and that was after the smaller option! Dominic says “it was amazing – best burger in the world and I can’t wait to go back.” Staff were very helpful and there was good music playing in the background.
Dominic (10)
5 OUT OF 5 STARS
Care2Create Ferguslie O
ur fantastic Ferguslie Care2Create group may have only been running a few weeks, but already they’re having a blast and getting messy! We have had fun covering each other in toilet roll to make mummies, and we made puppets out of wooden spoons! All our puppets were of someone we liked, or someone who helped us. Chris made a brilliant Batman puppet because he thinks he is really cool! Katie, Shonnie and Stephen made their friends at school who meant a lot to them! Courtnay made her puppet look like her social worker Graham, because she likes him and he helps her, and Kelsie made a puppet of our very own Laurie! Great work guys, we can’t wait to see what other creations you make!
5
Care2Create Ayrshire Have a look at these photos and see all the fantastic things that Brandon, Daniel and Mary have been getting up to!
NEWSSO & EVENTS JUNIOR
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
(age 5), who drew Wthis picture ofLewis his Advocate, Charity, ell done to…
and received a gold ‘Head Teacher’s Award!’
Buddy the Bear Have you met Buddy the Bear yet? If you are 10 years old or younger and join as a Who Cares? Scotland Member you will get your very own Buddy the Bear to welcome you to the Family!
Lew is (5) 30
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
31
NEWS & EVENTS SO JUNIOR
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
5 Stars for Five Guys Lots of yummy food at Five Guys in Dundee
O
n Tuesday 7th March Dominic and Candy took a trip to Five Guys in Dundee. Dominic couldn’t decide whether to go for a normal sized cheeseburger or the little one but following the advice of the guy serving we chose the little burgers, as it only had one beef burger whereas the normal one has two beef burgers. We ordered fries and a refill of juice along with a tub of tomato ketchup. We planned on having one of Five Guys amazing shakes as our desert but we were too full, and that was after the smaller option! Dominic says “it was amazing – best burger in the world and I can’t wait to go back.” Staff were very helpful and there was good music playing in the background.
Dominic (10)
5 OUT OF 5 STARS
Care2Create Ferguslie O
ur fantastic Ferguslie Care2Create group may have only been running a few weeks, but already they’re having a blast and getting messy! We have had fun covering each other in toilet roll to make mummies, and we made puppets out of wooden spoons! All our puppets were of someone we liked, or someone who helped us. Chris made a brilliant Batman puppet because he thinks he is really cool! Katie, Shonnie and Stephen made their friends at school who meant a lot to them! Courtnay made her puppet look like her social worker Graham, because she likes him and he helps her, and Kelsie made a puppet of our very own Laurie! Great work guys, we can’t wait to see what other creations you make!
5
Care2Create Ayrshire Have a look at these photos and see all the fantastic things that Brandon, Daniel and Mary have been getting up to!
NEWSSO & EVENTS JUNIOR
Speak Out Magazine | SPRING 2017
(age 5), who drew Wthis picture ofLewis his Advocate, Charity, ell done to…
and received a gold ‘Head Teacher’s Award!’
Buddy the Bear Have you met Buddy the Bear yet? If you are 10 years old or younger and join as a Who Cares? Scotland Member you will get your very own Buddy the Bear to welcome you to the Family!
Lew is (5) 30
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D
31
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