SpeakOut Spring 2022

SPRING 2022

WHO CARES? SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

We’re Stepping Up!

The Kiltwalk is back and we’re asking Scotland to step up together for Care Experienced people

Find out more on P20

MSYP TRIP TO SHETLAND - P7

CARE DAY & FESTIVAL OF CARE 22 - P10-11

SHARING THE UNTOLD STORIES OF CARE - P21

CATCH UP WITH LOUISE - P24-25

WELCOME

Welcome to the latest is s Inside this issue

Check out what’s inside...

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8

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18

Welcome Pages

LIFESTYLE 4-5

Celebrating You

6

Disclosure Scotland’s Top Tips for Care Experienced People

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MSYP Trip to Shetland

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Corporate Parenting in Practice

NEWS & EVENTS 10-11 Care Day and Festival of Care 22

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s r e d a e r r Ou 75

Every quarter SpeakOut is sent out to every Who Cares?

Scotland Family Member.

3,557 members 2

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Our youngest member is 1 and our oldest member is 75.

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Members Speak to Politicians

13

Highlights From this Year’s Annual General Meeting

14-15 Newsflash 16-17 7 Recommendations from You in our New Mental Health Report 18

Communities that Care Reaches Edinburgh

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Members Share their Thoughts on a National Care Service

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The Kiltwalk is Back

21

Sharing the Untold Stories of Care

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How SCRA is Keeping the Promise

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Steering Our New Strategic Plan

ENTERTAINMENT 24-25 Catch Up with Louise 26-27 Quiz Pages 28

Contact Us

SECTION

sue of SpeakOut Meet the Editorial Team

IE KATITOR)

SAM

(ASSISTANT EDITOR)

(ED

WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME IN PRINT?

We do!

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.

DAMIEN

(ASSISTA NT

EDITOR)

(ASS

MELI

ISTA

SSA

NT E

@whocaresscot

DITO

R)

Scan this QR code if you would like to see a digital copy of this SpeakOut or check out our library of older issues, right back to 1979!

If you would like to join the edi torial team, please email membership@whocaresscotla nd.org for an application form .

WhoCaresScotland @whocaresscot membership@ whocaresscotland.org

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Did you know?

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The views expressed by the members in this magazine are their own and not necessarily those of Who Cares? Scotland.

If you would like to opt out of receiving SpeakOut please email membership@whocaresscotland.org

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Celebrating You!

LIFESTYLE

C

elebrating you is a space for you guys to tell us what you’ve been getting up to and to share anything you might be really proud of. We love getting stuff from you, so please send in your poems, stories, pictures, jokes or tell us about something you’ve done, your favourite hobby or a new pet, and we’ll include it in the next issue of SpeakOut. membership@whocaresscotland.org 40 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6HJ

Catching Up with Care Experienced Week We ran out of space in the Winter 21 issue of SpeakOut to share what you’d been up to for Care Experienced Week back in October, so we thought better late than never. Celebrations for Care Experienced Week were held across Scotland, here’s a sneak peek into some of the week’s activities!

Celebrations in Edinburgh

Our Edinburgh Communities that Care team held a celebration for local Care Experienced children, young people and their families to connect with each other, celebrate and have fun. Participants got involved with a silent disco, arts & crafts, a special FX workshop, food and more!

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Lanarkshire Showcase Over in Lanarkshire, 18 creative Care Experienced members took part in a public showcase of their art.

This included baking, arts & crafts, and creative writing. One of the creatives in attendance, Amy, designed a doll’s house to help visualize what being Care Experienced can mean: “I decided to create a giant doll’s house, because it’s so easy to play with dolls in the same way it is to play about with a child or young person’s life. These dolls can be picked up and moved to the next room, and this is what inspired me to draw nine of the bedrooms that I’ve lived in – for me to highlight these major issues in today’s society, to create a better future for our children.

Just imagine, if only I could superglue these dolls to the floor. Think about how much more resilient they would be – harder to knock over, and firmly placed within a single household. This is the future that we need to imagine for Care Experienced people. My hope is that if someone were to recreate my doll’s house in the future, there would be a lot less rooms.”

LIFESTYLE

Shadow Friend Lindsay Cook, East Renfrewshire APW

Poor mental health is something long prevalent amongst the Care Experienced community and other vulnerable groups. The added challenges associated with the Covid-19 virus has in many cases made it even more difficult to overcome these issues.

At the tail-end of last year, East Renfrewshire Champions board group collaborated with Youth Services and film making company Strangeboat Productions to create a short film highlighting these issues and young people’s thoughts on how best they could be supported. The film is all but finished - we are currently editing a response from East Renfrewshire’s ‘Healthier Minds’ Initiative which has brought together health, social services and education to explore and adapt their resources in the hope of making them more effective for young people and more accessible in a covid world. We are hopeful of releasing our short film in the near future.

Sadly, we didn’t have the space to include everything we created, however, we thought this piece of work was too good to be ignored. It relates to those out there who require more than a ‘...you just have to perk yourself up’ pep-talk. To those, having the right service at the right time is crucial.

My thanks to Nicole, one of East Renfrewshire’s champions board members and Care Experienced trainees, for her collaboration.

I follow this girl about—I live in her head—She can’t see me—but knows I’m here.

She will never say it but I’m her best friend, so keep away.

I make her feel bad; make her life more difficult—though I won’t apologise—it’s just what I do.

Of course, she’s tried to evict me more than once but I’ve been here for a very long time. This place belongs to me as much as it does her—They think they can get rid of me with mindfulness and medication—They are wrong—when I see them coming I simply creep away and hide quite as a sharp-toothed mouse until it’s safe to come out again—And, the longer I’m with her, the stronger I get—and harder to shift.

It’s all in the timing—just waiting for the right conditions to strike again—after all, I know what’s best for her, not you.

Oh, and in case you didn’t know—there are many of us; far more than you know—there will always be a place for us, for we never, ever discriminate.

Calling All Care Experienced Young People in Aberdeenshire. Join the YPOC Group!

The Young People’s Organising and Campaigning (YPOC) Group is looking for Care Experienced young people aged 12 or over, living in Aberdeenshire, to join us.

The YPOC Group campaigns to make things better for other Care Experienced children and young people. We meet in Inverurie once a month, on the last Thursday from 4.30-6pm. We can organise to get you here if you live somewhere else.

We have pizza, we do some work and we have some fun. Just now we’re working on how to challenge the stigma that a lot of young people feel about being in care.

If you are interested in coming along please get in touch with Kate Ramsden at kate.ramsden@aberdeenshire.gov. uk or Laura Stewart at laura.stewart@ aberdeenshire.gov.uk

This is why Mellissa, Ashton and Karla like coming along: people “You get to have “You get to chat with ” to. who you can relate pi

“You get to meet other people with care expe rience from different areas an d backgrounds.”

zza for free!”

out and “We get to go ities when have fun activ d.” there’s no Covi

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SECTION LIFESTYLE

Top 4 Tips for Care Experienced people D

uring your journey through work, education or volunteering you may apply to work with people who are considered to be vulnerable.

When you apply to these jobs, organisations will often check to make sure you’re suitable for the role. These can be in the form of applications and interviews, but you may also be asked to undergo a ‘criminal record check’ with Disclosure Scotland (but don’t worry – this is very common!). Disclosure Scotland then checks and

1.

No address history, no problem!

Scotland accepts 3. Disclosure multiple different forms of ID

Disclosure Scotland asks for a five-year address history. It’s important to submit the full address of where you currently live, but if you can’t remember the details of the places you have stayed in the last five years, simply write ‘no fixed abode’. If you can’t remember the street or number, Disclosure Scotland will also accept ‘homeless’ or the name of the town you stayed in. If you can’t remember the postcode, you can simply use ‘XX1 1XX’ which helps to process the application.

Photo ID such as a passport or driving licenses are not the only type that Disclosure Scotland accepts, they will also accept letters and bank statements. If you get a bank statement by email, you can take a screenshot on your phone. Disclosure Scotland will also accept letters from Who Cares? Scotland on your behalf, or a letter from an official organisation, as long as they are letter headed.

2.

4.

How to get around different surnames

If you don’t know your mother’s maiden name, Disclosure Scotland will just ask you to put in your own surname.

If you’ve moved around a lot (for example, between families) and you’ve been known at certain points by that family’s name, there is a section that asks the question: ‘any other names known by’. Disclosure Scotland will ask you to put any name that you might have been known by in the past, which helps them to identify who you are.

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shares information about people’s criminal records with employers, ensuring that the applicant is able to work with vulnerable people.

We know that, for Care Experienced people, these processes can feel a bit nerve-wracking, and you might not always know how to fill out some of the details you may be asked. Therefore, together with Disclosure Scotland, we’ve put together 4 handy tips when applying for a disclosure check!

If in doubt, reach out!

Who Cares? Scotland can support you to apply for disclosure. You can speak to your advocacy worker, or phone or email our helpline which is open 12 noon to 4pm from Monday to Friday. Phone 0330 107 7540 or email help@whocaresscotland.org.

You can also speak to Disclosure Scotland directly, or you can ask your advocacy worker or anyone who is supporting you in your application to contact them on your behalf. Phone 0300 020 0040 or email response@disclosurescotland.gov.scot.

LIFESTYLE SECTION

Care Experienced MSYPs Hit the Ground Running in Shetland

Heather

Heather – WC?S MSYP Support worker I had the honour of accompanying Charles and Oisín on their very first trip as new Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) for Who Cares? Scotland, and what a fitting start for it to have been at the Festival in Care in Shetland.

Despite the best efforts of Storm Eunice, we made it safely there on a tiny plane, and were greeted warmly by the #SHETLANDCREW. Having seen the amazing work they’ve put into their group over the years, as well as how they’ve built and developed the Festival of Care, it was really powerful to see this first hand in Shetland, and I know that it made a huge impact on all the visitors who attended.

We can’t thank the #SHETLANDCREW enough for being such fantastic hosts, for involving us in important conversations at the Care Convention, and for setting our MSYPs up with loads of inspiring actions that they are eager to take forward with Scottish Youth Parliament! We hope we can visit again in the near future!

Oisín Attending the Festival of Care was a fantastic way to kick-start our roles as MSYPs - making sure that those in faraway rural areas are being heard and listened to has always been important to me, so going to Shetland was a must!

Meeting the #SHETLANDCREW was just amazing!

Learning about the sense of community and the importance of the relationships between them was aweinspiring. The hard work the #SHETLANDCREW have

Charles

I had the amazing privilege to attend the third Festival of Care held in Lerwick, Shetland, for three days along with Oisín and Heather. It was a privilege meeting the members of the #SHETLANDCREW who are fighting tirelessly for the recognition of their rights as Care Experienced young people.

We had the opportunity to attend the part of the festival called the Care Convention where we met professionals from public office, the public sector, and other civil society groups. Together with the #SHETLANDCREW, we all worked to develop a set of recommendations which would be reviewed by the

been doing is simply amazing, through this hard work they created a compelling book called ‘Take a walk in my shoes’, a book filled with love, truth and light, a book about home and belonging, but most of all a book that we can all connect with.

My favourite part of the whole trip was not only getting to see how high the waves were but getting to know the amazing young people and learning about their life on the Shetland Islands.

various stakeholders present in Shetland. These recommendations would greatly improve the lives of Care Experienced young people in Shetland and bolster relationships with Corporate Parents.

In our free time, we explored Lerwick and had the opportunity to meet the Shetland MSYPs who briefed us on Shetland slang, as well as what it’s like to be a young person in Shetland.

I was moved by the work that the #SHETLANDCREW were doing and I believe that they can lead Shetland to a place where Care Experienced people can be treated with equality, respect and love.

Oisin

Charles

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LIFESTYLE SECTION

Corporate Parenting in Practice Rosie McKean, Training & Education Coordinator

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t’s time for an update from the world of Corporate Parenting! If you didn’t know, a Corporate Parent is a public organisation that has legal responsibilities to support Care Experienced people. Some examples of Corporate Parents include your local council, the NHS, colleges, universities and national bodies like Children’s Hearings Scotland. Recently, the Scottish Government asked Corporate Parents to report what they’ve done over the past 3 years to support Care Experienced people. Here’s what they found out:

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Scottish Ministers

Local Authorities

The Scottish Government published and approved the Independent Care Review findings and recommendations, known as The Promise. The government also committed to actions such as keeping brothers and sisters together, and making it easier for Care Experienced people to access supports such as free dental care, the job start payment, housing payments and childcare.

The government found that the types of support accessible to Care Experienced people were different across local authorities. Moving forward, it’s important that local authorities ensure that Care Experienced people get the best support, no matter where in Scotland they live. Although, we still saw some unique supports being designed, like in the Scottish Borders, Care Experienced people worked with a local IT firm to build a Wi-Fi system for local authority children’s homes. This gave young people their own digital hub letting them access the internet.

LIFESTYLE SECTION Universities Universities have made good progress in increasing their awareness and understanding as well as responding to the needs of Care Experienced students. The University of Strathclyde, for example, has been prioritising Care Experienced students for international opportunities, such as educational trips to Madrid, Barcelona and Los Angeles. The government thinks it’s important that universities continue to think about their specific responsibilities towards Care Experienced students, being careful not to group these with the needs of young carers and estranged students.

Colleges Several colleges told the government that they had improved the ways in which Care Experienced people can access college. At Borders College, the Borders Young Talent Project provides mentoring support for pupils at local schools who might face extra obstacles moving from school to college.

However. the government noticed that colleges rarely discussed how they were supporting Care Experienced students to travel to and from college, access housing, or transition from college.

NHS Health Boards

National Bodies

The government was disappointed with the few responses from NHS Health Boards, but they also recognised that COVID had a big impact on health services. There were some positive areas, however. NHS Ayrshire and Arran spoke with young people about their experiences of healthcare services. The results of this helped to improve access to dental care for Care Experienced people. To improve, the government would like Health Boards to focus on providing supports that meet the specific needs young people with care experience, rather than all children and young people.

The government found great improvement from national bodies, who have done more to listen to Care Experienced people and understand what help and support they would like. Police Scotland, for example, tested an idea to reduce the criminalisation of Care Experienced people in residential care. Processes were put in place to respond differently to children’s behaviour, particularly when not at home, leading to a 62% reduction in minor crime. However, some national bodies who don’t interact with Care Experienced people every day found it harder to tell the government how they were meeting their Corporate Parenting responsibilities.

You can also check out our easy-read report to learn more about the Scottish Government’s findings:

Want to learn more?

Watch our short video here!

Have Corporate Parents done enough? What should they focus on? You can let us know by emailing corporateparenting@whocaresscotland.org 9

SECTION NEWS & EVENTS

Care Day and the Festival of Care 2022 Care Day takes place on the third Friday in February each year. A day of celebration and unity, which originated in Scotland in 2015, and is now recognised across the UK and internationally as an opportunity to celebrate the lives and voices of Care Experienced people.

This year Care Day fells on Friday 18th February and the theme was ‘community’. Care Day also saw the start of Shetland’s third Festival of Care - Tending the Light.

Care Day Highlights Along with 4 other charities from across the UK and Ireland, we hosted Conversations with the Care Community, which saw Care Experienced people explore a digital village and discuss the themes of education, transitions, accessing information and recreation, in the setting of community. These conversations were then used to make a Care Day special podcast which you’ll find on our website.

ACE and Aberdeen hosted their own ‘Northern Lights Care Festival’ celebrating the young people

who are a source ‘light’ during times of uncertainty.

In partnership with Highland Council and Eden Court, our highland team held an event in Inverness featuring a live DJ, photobooth and bingo.

Members met with the Minister for Children and Young People to discuss community and advocacy.

Care Day Spotlight on East Ayrshire To celebrate Care Day 2022 in East Ayrshire, Who Cares? Scotland teamed up with our neighbours at Centrestage for an afternoon of fun!

We welcomed around 35 people, 18 of them Care Experienced children and young people, to our new home in the heart of Kilmarnock.

The team at Centrestage provided information on the work they are doing and the activities they have on offer for all ages and gave our younger guests the opportunity to play some games and have a singsong.

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The Who Cares? Team provided an informal information session, outlining the work we do on a local and national level and taking questions from carers and professionals.

We finished with a scribble session and a buffet tea, where we asked what activities young people and carers would like to see for local members, and how we can best support our Care Experienced Community to have their voice heard.

If you want to find out more about Who Cares? Scotland in East Ayrshire can support you, please just get in touch!

Details on the back of Speak Out!

NEWS & EVENTS

FOC22 Highlights

Tending the Light, Shetland’s Festival of Care 2022 asked what it takes for us to Tend the Light and keep the beacons burning brightly for Care Experienced people across Scotland? What is the light that we are tending? Is it the light of The Promise, the light of love and care, of doing things differently? Is it tending our own light, making sure it burns brightly so it can be seen by those who need it? Is it the light of our Care Experienced people, nurturing their own inner beacons, supporting them to shine brightly, lifelong?

The festival lasted 5 days and saw flag raisings and illuminations across Scotland. People built their own lighthouses to celebrate. Shetland hosted the Home and Belonging exhibition, Minecraft workshops, verbatim theatre performances and the book launch of Take a Walk in My Shoes, an extraordinary book about what it is to be a person of any age who has experienced the care system. Co-produced by members of the #SHETLANDCREW and poet Jen Hadfield.

Special thanks to our corporate partners at Ashurst, who celebrated the Festival of Care at their Glasgow office!

Interactive Festival Map designed by Anupa Gardner

FOC22 Spotlight on the Twilight Gathering The final event of the Festival of Care was the Twilight Gathering.

This online event brought together Care Experienced people, decision makers and corporate parents to talk about mental health, relationships, wellbeing and ‘tending the light’ for Care Experienced people. Over 90 people attended the event, including Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care Kevin Stewart and Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

The event kicked off with a panel discussion with: Lynda Greig from our National Representative Body, Megan Moffat from the Who Cares? Scotland Board and Children & Young People’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson. Each responded to the overall question of what it means to tend the light for Care Experienced people before answering questions from the audience.

Local groups then shared how they have been working to promote change around mental health, this included a verbatim theatre piece from the #SHETLANDCREW, a presentation from the North Lanarkshire ‘Today Not Tomorrow’ group, a video from the East Lothian Champions Board and an Angus group presented their findings from a local survey. NRB member, Lynda, also presented findings from our Annual Participation Programme Mental Health report which you find out more about on pages 16-17.

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SECTION NEWS & EVENTS

Who Cares? Scotland Members Speak to Politicians

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n October, Who Cares? Scotland celebrated Care Experienced Week 2021 with an all-new event ‘Care To Connect’ - bringing our National Representative Body (NRB) together with Members of the Scottish Parliament: Claire Haughey MSP (SNP Minister for Children and Young People), Anas Sarwar MSP (Labour Leader) and Gillian MacKay MSP (Greens Health & Social Care Spokesperson) Chatting in our National Office in Glasgow, the NRB got to know their political representatives more personally, whilst also seeking updates on how each political party are addressing issues facing the Care Experienced community.

Afterwards, we caught up with NRB Member Thomas Bartlett to chat about their experience at Care to Connect, what it means to them, and what it could mean for the Care Experienced community.

What word would you use to sum up your experience?

My word is optimistic. I’m optimistic about the future. I think they party representatives are realising there is a problem [with the care system] and when we spoke to them it seemed like they really wanted to help fix it.

What made you want to take part?

I think because these are people that are essentially in charge of the country, and they have the potential to make and influence change. I’m very happy I went and hopefully there will be positive change in the future.

Looking back, what do you remember most about the day?

I think it was that they [the politicians] were real people!

When you see them on TV, in suits and ties or whatever, they don’t seem real, it’s as if they are machines! But when

Clare Haughey, SNP Minister for Children and Young People, meets Ross Thomson and NRB member Thomas Bartlett

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Jasmin (and Kivali!) meet Anas Sarwar, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party

you talk to them, and get to know about them personally, that was the bit I liked – getting to know their personal life and not just their political life, it made them seem more NRB members Jasmin (Glasgow) and Nicole human! When they meet Clare Haughey, SNP were honest too – the (Aberdeen) Minister for Children and Young People Green MSP said that she didn’t know when I asked her a question but she would get back to me, and I appreciated that.

How could this event impact the Care Experienced community?

I think just holding politicians accountable. When they make a commitment in these chats, we can go back to them and follow it up. I also think the videos [on social media] they made, will raise awareness. You never know if people are seeing something like that and realising they are Care Experienced, and they think ‘why don’t I become a WC?S member’. I think it brings more awareness to Who Cares? Scotland and the membership. People who are already members will see that

Who Cares? Scotland are not just talking the talk, they are really doing things and are accountable to the future. who is this?

NEWS &SECTION EVENTS

Highlights From this Year’s

Annual General Meeting

W

e held our 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday 28th February.

Whilst we have high hopes of holding an in-person AGM/Members’ Assembly later this year, this one was once again held on Zoom. We were joined by staff, volunteers, our Board of Directors, and of course you – our members. Ryan McCuaig, the Chair of the Board, highlighted some of the key events that occurred from April 2020 to March 2021.

COVID-19 hits and the world went into lockdown

Held our first ever Digital Festival

We moved our National Office (no easy feat in the middle of lockdown!

April 2020

March 2021 Who Cares? Scotland creates a crisis helpline and delivers support to an unprecedented number of Care Experienced people

We rebranded and created our new logo to better reflect our values and the diversity of the Care Experienced community

We welcomed our new CEO, Louise Hunter

Fiona Donaldson, our Director of Finance, then reviewed the organisations accounts and reported that our income increased to £5.2m.

We then had two special resolutions to ask our members to vote on.

1. Approve the changes made to the constitution at the previous AGM on 27.02.21.

2. Approve a change to the constitution that will allow us to provide independent advocacy for the brothers and sisters of children and young people subject to formal processes.

Members voted and both resolutions passed.

Two long standing board members, Alicia Santana and Euan Haggerty, were reelected to the board by unanimous vote.

Then we said goodbye to two of our most beloved board members, Sarah-Jane Linton who has been on the board since 2015 and according to Ryan McCuaig has been like the “board maw” and Megan Moffat, who may no longer be our Vice-Chair but will no doubt still be seen in and around the national office and at all things Who Cares, along with her side-kick Martha the dog.

Having completed the official business of the AGM, we then had the chance to meet and hear from our newly formed Senior Management Team – Louise Hunter, CEO, Carly Elliott, Director of Influencing,

Denny Ford, Director of Advocacy and Participation, Fiona Donaldson, Director of Finance and Marie-Claire Jones, Director of Fundraising and Communications.

Marie-Claire has been on maternity leave for most of the last year, but is excited to be returning to work! We also had an update from our Impact Measurement Manager, Donna Nicholas and wonderful volunteer Jim on the development of our next strategic plan. Keep an eye out for ways you can get involved with that in the coming months.

We can’t wait to see you in person in October for our next AGM and the launch of the new strategic plan during Care Experienced Week!

Megan

Sarah-Jane Linton

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NEWS & EVENTS

NEWSFLASH Who Cares? Scotland’s Members’ Newsletter

Winter Aid Who Cares?

Scotland has been provided funding to help alleviate the impact of fuel, material and food poverty during winter and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This support comes in the form of a one-off payment of £150 and is available to Care Experienced people who have left the care system, kinship carers and parents of children looked after at home on a supervision requirement Our application form opens on Monday mornings at 9.30am and closes when we reach 100 applications. We will only accept one application per household.

This fund will come to an end on Monday 28th March.

The Young Person’s Bus Travel Scheme Applications are now open for National Entitlement Cards (NEC) and YoungScot NECs to access the Young Person’ Bus Travel Scheme which gives free bus travel to young people under the age of 22.

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Evidence Submitted to the Health, Sport and Social Care Committee

Our Policy Development Coordinator Lucy Hughes gave evidence to the Health, Sport and Social Care Committee to aid in its inquiry into the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Lucy leant on evidence gathered through our advocacy work and our Annual Participation Programme particularly the themes of Sexual Health (read the report on this theme here) and Mental Health.

Scottish Child Payment Update

Back in February 2021, the Scottish Child payment was first introduced. This is a £10 per week payment that is designed to financially support eligible families with children under the age of 6 We welcomed the joint letter sent by The Poverty Alliance to the First Minister and Scottish Government calling for the payment to be doubled.

In November 2021, the First Minister announced that the Scottish Child payment would double to £20 a week starting from April 2022. The payment will include eligible families with children up to the age of 16 by the end of 2022.

The payment increase is a step forward in tackling child poverty in Scotland.

NEWS & EVENTS

E

very month we send out a digital newsletter called Newsflash to our members. However, we know that not all of our members will have an email account or access to the internet. That’s why we are including a roundup of important headlines from the

Who Cares? Scotland Appears on Scotland Tonight On Tuesday 1st February, our CEO Louise and Board Member Megan appeared in Scotland Tonight on STV speaking about the progress of The Promise in the two years since it was launched, as well as the importance of independent advocacy.

last couple of months and sharing them again, here in SpeakOut, so you don’t miss out!

If you haven’t been receiving NewsFlash but have a working email address, just email membership@ whocaresscotland.org and we’ll update your details.

Sexual Health and Relationships of Care Experienced People The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are looking to bring together a group of Care Experienced people to help design new guidance and tools for workers and carers.

Everyone wants to be able to find the right support and advice around their relationships and sexual health.

You can help make this a better experience for Care Experienced children and young people.

The Policy and Participation team will be hosting regular meetings between May and October to create and design the new guidance and tools for workers and carers to get clued up on having better conversations with children and young people in care about all things sexual health and relationships.

If you want to get involved contact Jo Mcleod, National Development Officer, by emailing jmcleod@whocaresscotland.org or if you’d like to have an informal chat about the opportunity you can call her on 07598 580 316.

Harvard 2022 After a competitive application process, we are excited to announce that this year, with the support of local authorities, we will be sending 4 Who Cares? Scotland members to the Harvard University Summer School. The programme runs from Saturday 18 June to Saturday 6 August 2022 and takes place at the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. This is a fully immersive, seven-week university experience with rigorous academic requirements. Participants will live on campus with other students from around the world, study two university-level courses and take part in campus life.

We’d like to introduce you to our 4 students, who you’ll be hearing more from them once they start their Harvard journey.

Carys

Lauren

Stephanie

Téa

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NEWS & EVENTS

7 Recommendations our New Mental Hea W

e all want to lead happy, healthy lives and to have the support we need for our mental health whenever we need it. This is the world our members want to see for all Care Experienced people, who can face greater need for mental health support.

For several years, Care Experienced members of our organisation have been calling for changes to how their mental health is supported. Members also told us through our National Membership Survey and Members’ Assembly in 2021 that they want to influence change around mental health policy and practice. To build on this, we’ve worked with Care Experienced people across Scotland – from Ayrshire to Shetland – to ensure their thoughts and feelings get heard. After consulting 60+ members, we’ve created our new report ‘Tend our Light’ Mental Health Findings from our Annual Participation Programme.

Care Experienced people told us how they describe and understand mental health, if their care experience has impacted their mental health, and what their views are around different services and supports. Importantly, we also wanted to know what changes they would specifically like to see. From the views shared with us, we’ve offered seven ways for Scotland to understand how to ‘Tend the Light’ for Care Experienced people:

1. Dedicated mental health services for Care Experienced people 2. Lifelong mental health support for Care Experienced people 3. Every child in care pro-actively offered mental health support 4. Supporting loving relationships for Care Experienced people 5. Tailored and specialist mental health training about care experience 6. Mental health education for Care Experienced people 7. The right to choose mental health support and access it quickly

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Why is it important to focus on mental health?

When asked how care experience had affected their mental health, our members spoke about trauma and adversity, challenges with feeling loved and belonging, and the impact of being stigmatised due to their care experience. Every child has the right to grow up feeling safe in a family environment, free from discrimination, and around happiness, love and understanding. Through the experiences our members have shared, Care Experienced people’s rights have not always been fully realised – taking a toll on their mental health.

Every person we spoke to felt their care experience had impacted upon their mental health in some way.

79% of online survey respondents said that poor mental health impacted how they make and keep friends. Being Care Experienced has meant many young people have been less likely to experience loving relationships, and experiences lean more to being unsupported, isolated, and lonely. There were some positive experiences of the impact of care on members’ mental health, with a few participants finding care to be an escape from a negative situation and supporting them towards positive achievements, and that they had mental strength from going through tough experiences.

“We can see that Care Experienced mental health is endemic and we feel we have taken too many steps backwards. Now is the time to move forward” Lynda Greig, NRB Member

NEWS & EVENTS

s from You in alth Report and want to work with us closely on this in the future. This will include influencing:

We consistently heard that access to mental health services is challenging and needs serious change, with almost 7/10 respondents telling us that they were unable to access mental health support when they needed it, with a lack of availability and access criteria being too strict.

If Scotland commits to realising the 7 recommendations in this report and we secure commitment from those who have power to make change happen, together we could create a world where Care Experienced people can thrive in life.

‘It takes a village to raise a child and Corporate Parents and professionals should take on that mentality going forward when working with Care Experienced people.’

We’ll be sharing these findings with Corporate Parents, the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee and other key decisionmakers who we know have the power to make the changes asked for. We have also been able to share this evidence with our Training and Education team, who have put on two mental health training events for Corporate Parents – with more to come. The Promise are also focusing on mental health for Care Experienced people

•

Scottish Government’s refresh of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-27

•

Scotland’s new Suicide Prevention Strategy

•

The Children and Young People’s Mental Health & Wellbeing: A Knowledge and Skills Framework for the Scottish Workforce by NHS Education for Scotland Thank you again to every person who has shared their views on mental health, whether this year as part of the Annual Programme, or in the past. This has helped us shape a national evidence base of what our members think and feel about this important area!

If you have any questions about the Annual Participation Programme or want to get more involved, please e-mail us at policy@ whocaresscotland.org, or speak to your WC?S worker.

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SECTION NEWS & EVENTS

Communities that Care

reaches Edinburgh Kieran Platts, Development Officer - Edinburgh

W

e’re excited to reveal that the Communities that Care project, which started off in Renfrewshire, is now arriving in Scotland’s capital! Rolling out across 12 Primary and Secondary schools, the aim of the project is to create a ‘care aware’ community.

We start in schools, delivering training sessions to school staff and PSE sessions to pupils. We then deliver sessions with families and carers and create spaces for connection and belonging for young people to attend. We have

a brilliant group of volunteers in Edinburgh that are helping us with this.

The volunteers have been leading and supporting the sessions in school, using their skills and knowledge to help design the training to make sure it’s just right.

We are still pretty new, but have delivered to over 1000 young people in Edinburgh. To celebrate launching Communities that Care across Edinburgh, we’ve caught up with a few of our volunteers about their experience so far with the project:

Sarah “I’ve really enjoyed being part of the school’s team.

It’s been great to see so many schools involved.

One of my favourite activities is [when] the young people craft paper aeroplanes to make their ideas ‘fly into action.’ They’ve came up with so many good ideas and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.”

Anna

Maureen

“I first joined WC?S in August last year, as a volunteer with the new Edinburgh community schools project. This project aims to support The Promise, by building a foundation where communities are better educated and understanding of Care Experienced people. I’ve really enjoyed going into schools with Kieran and Lesley-Ann, shadowing PSE lessons about WCS and what care experience means.

“It’s a very long time since I was at school! However, as a volunteer with the WC?S Schools project I’ve recently been going back to school to talk to classes from P4 – S1 about what it means to be Care Experienced. The pupils have been great – so keen to learn! The school staff have also been very welcoming and interested in the content of our presentations. The younger children really like it when we use clips from the cartoon film Lilo and Stitch to help them think what it would feel like to move away from your home and family. A Muppet character Karli, who lives in foster care also helps explain how all the people in a child’s life can make them feel loved in different ways. It’s fantastic to see how open and understanding the pupils are, and they are so keen to think about what they can do to help. It is a privilege to be part of this project, and we hope it will eventually transform the school experience for all Care Experienced young people.”

Being part of WC?S, I’ve learned a lot about care experience, as well classroom and school dynamics.

I really believe that targeting schools and helping young people and children understand care experience better will lead to a more inclusive society.

I know that Kieran and the rest of the team have been working hard with Edinburgh schools to make these lessons age-specific. I feel lucky to be supported by such a lovely team and I am excited for the future of volunteering with WC?S and meeting more people in the organisation!”

We’re excited to see where the Communities that Care project will take us next!

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NEWS &SECTION EVENTS

Members Share their Thoughts on a National Care Service

O

n Saturday 5th February we held our Bairns’ Supper – an event where Care Experienced people could come along to learn more about and have their say on the Scottish Government’s proposal for a National Care Service. The event took on the theme of a Burns Supper, where each theme was presented as a course of the meal.

The event kicked off with the ‘Ode tae a National Care Service’ by our Training and Education Coordinator Laurie (this can be viewed on our social media feeds). After some brief introductions, with members of The Promise, our National Representative Body and Who Cares?

Scotland all present, attendees were separated into breakout rooms to tuck into their courses.

These discussions have been pulled together to create The Bairns’ Supper Report which has seven main recommendations.

The Promise and Scottish Government Representatives present were receptive to the opinions of those in attendance, and acknowledged the formation of the National Care Service as an opportunity to make some much needed change. We also discussed the need for proactive consultation with Care Experienced people in the formation of the service, as well as protected characteristics and why care experience is not considered to be one.

These are things we look forward to exploring in the future.

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NEWS & EVENTS

The Kiltwalk is back!

After 2 years of virtual Kiltwalks, the in-person Kiltwalks are back!

Throughout 2022 we are asking corporate partners, fundraisers and the people of Scotland to join us in #SteppingUp for Care Experienced people by taking part in Kiltwalk to help raise money to support the work we do with you – our members. We know that some of you enjoy taking part in the Kiltwalk as it’s an opportunity to get out and about and connect with other members and WC?S staff, so here’s some information about the Kiltwalk, what it is and how to take part if you’re interested.

The Kiltwalk is a unique Scottish charity event, which brings together walkers of all ages and abilities for an unforgettable fun day. People take part in a sponsored walk to raise money for a charity of their choice.

There are two walks coming up soon that we are taking part in – the Glasgow Kiltwalk on Sunday 24th April and the Aberdeen Kiltwalk on Sunday 29th May. People sign up to take part and can walk between 3 – 26 miles depending on what distance and location they choose.

As a member, we’ll pay the signup fee for you, so you’re more than welcome to lace up your comfiest trainers and come along, all you have to do is find some people to sponsor you, although this is something we can also help you with. On the day of your chosen Kiltwalk you’ll get the chance to meet other members, Who Cares? Scotland staff and volunteers and anyone else who is taking part.

You’ll get some free food to keep you energised so you can focus on having fun. The money you raise will ensure Who Cares? Scotland can keep doing the work we do. A bonus is that all

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Check out the new t-shirts our walkers will be wearing

money raised at the Kiltwalk is topped up 50% by the Hunter Foundation! If you want to take part in the Kiltwalk you can sign up on our website – www.whocaresscotland.org/Kiltwalk or by scanning the QR code below.

If walking the Kiltwalk doesn’t sound like it’s for you then no problem, we have other ways you can get involved. As well as well as walkers, Who Cares? Scotland is also looking for Step Up champions who are volunteers who can highlight and share the fundraising pages of our Care Experienced walkers who might not have a huge network to show them support or by showing up to a Kiltwalk to participate in a cheering section for all Who Cares? Scotland walkers.

It’s time to walk the walk. It’s time for Scotland to step up together for Care Experienced people.

To register your interest in these other roles, just get in touch with our fundraising team by emailing kiltwalk@whocaresscotland.org or by calling 0141 226 4441.

NEWS & EVENTS

Sharing the Untold Stories of Care – Care Experienced History Month 2022 In 2021, we led out the first ever Care Experienced History Month (CEHM), celebrating the lives of Care Experienced people throughout history. This was born from the knowledge that Care Experienced history is rarely told, despite state involvement in the lives of Care Experienced people dating back over 4,000 years.

With support from steering groups including people from around the world, it was a global event with daily updates and activities to take part in throughout April. There was a lecture series, the Untold Stories of famous Care Experienced people were shared on the CEHM social media channels every day and the world saw the first ever International Care Experienced Day of Remembrance on 30th April.

This is an event to be celebrated yearly, and April is fast approaching, which means Care Experienced History Month 2022 is just around the corner. This year, after the massive global experience last year, we are dialling back the celebrations for a more focused but still very meaningful series of events.

Care Experienced History Month 2022 will see a deeper focus on learning about and listening to stories and moments from the vast and global history of care. This will take the form of an evolved version of Untold Stories, as much of the history is indeed relatively untold. We are asking expert researchers to contribute to The Untold Stories Lecture Series, a series of lectures and seminars on care and care experience in different parts of history. If possible, these lectures will be available to attend in person.

We are also asking experts to contribute blogs about similar topics which will be shared online and on social media throughout the month. Keep an eye out for our information on the lecture series, about how to get involved, and the blogs as they are shared throughout April. If you have information or a story about a Care Experienced person you feel needs to be told, you are more than welcome to share it with us by emailing comms@whocaresscotland.org.

As with last year, we will also be asking the world to join us in respecting the

International Care Experienced Day of Remembrance by commemorating the Care Experienced people who have been present in our society for millennia, many of whom were oppressed, forgotten and unable to reach their potential. Again, taking place on the 30th April, we will share an image that you can reshare if you would like to show that you are taking part and would rather do so without saying anything outright. The way you wish to remember is entirely up to you.

Stay tuned online for more updates.

21

NEWS & EVENTS

How SCRA is

Keeping The Promise SpeakOut talks to Who Cares? Scotland member, Collette Gallagher from the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) to find out a bit more about her role, and how SCRA are working towards upholding The Promise.

Q) Collette, tell us a little about yourself?

I’ve been a member of Who Cares?

Scotland since around 2015. Prior to this I didn’t think of myself as Care Experienced as I spent most of my childhood at home with my mum and brother. It was only when I spoke to a member of WC?S that I realised I was Care Experienced. I had been to lots of Children’s Hearings when I was younger and had been looked after by foster carers a few times. Being part of WC?S is really important to me as it means I am part of a care family.

Q) Tell us about your role?

When The Promise came out I knew that I wanted to be part of the team in SCRA driving forward the work needed to keep The Promise. Last year I was successful in getting a new job in SCRA which helps me do just that! My job title is Keeping the Promise Operational Change Lead. It means that I am the person responsible for making sure that the changes that The Promise asks us to make to the way we do our work happen.

Q) What is SCRA doing to Keep The Promise?

We have developed a Route map which you can see in more detail on our website www.scra.gov.uk. This

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shows the work we will be doing to Keep The Promise. We’re starting by looking at how we support children and young people to have their voice heard in Hearings. Some of the exciting things we have planned are a new ‘Hearing About Me’ form, coproduced by Proud2Care, which will replace the All About Me form and a sensory corner in our Glenrothes office.

Q) When will we start to see improvements to the Children’s Hearings System?

There will be some changes you will see very soon like the Hearing About Me form and the sensory corner. Other changes will take longer because they need change to happen to the law or how the Children’s Hearings System is structured. This work will take a number of years but we will make sure that improvements that we have the power to make happen as quickly as possible.

Q) Are you working with Care/Hearings Experienced children and young people?

Yes, we work closely with Our Hearings, Our Voice and engage with local champions groups. We will also be working with the VIP project in

relation to how we organise Hearings looking at when, where and how they happen. It is really important to me that the voice of Care and HearingsExperienced people is at the heart of everything we do.

Q) How can I get involved?

Can I provide feedback/ask questions?

I would love to hear what you think about the work we have planned and what we can do better. You can contact us at keepingthepromise@ scra.gov.uk or you can contact me at collette.gallagher@scra.gov.uk. If you use BSL you can contact me through contactSCOTLAND-BSL on 0131 244 8665.

NEWS & EVENTS

Steering our Strategic Plan

Calling all members!

The time has finally come for us here at Who Cares?

Scotland to reflect on the last four years and to look ahead to our exciting future, but we need your help to do this.

Since 2018 Who Cares? Scotland has had a vision…

A lifetime of equality, respect and love for Care Experienced people. When members, employees, volunteers, and friends of the organisation created our vision they also worked hard together on a Strategic Plan to help us get there.

A Strategic Plan is a document that outlines the plan and goals that an organisation aims to achieve in the ‘medium-term’. Who Cares? Scotland write Strategic Plans that last for four-five years. Our current Strategic Plan outlines who we are as an organisation and what we want to do, as well as giving us a timeline for when we want to achieve it. Simply put, it is about everything we do.

Just by way as a wee reminder, our current Strategic Plan revolves around four objectives: •

Rights: We will support Care Experienced children and young people from across Scotland to claim their rights.

•

Belonging: We will create opportunities with Care Experienced people to connect with one another, understand their identity and build a strong sense of self and belonging to the care family.

•

Influencing: We will support Care Experienced people to be active in positively influencing their personal, social and political world in Scotland and beyond.

•

Pioneering: We will lead an ethical organisation with care experience at its heart.

The exciting news is that our current Strategic Plan is coming to an end, and we must create a new one that pushes us forward and holds us accountable, so later this year, we’ll be launching our Plan for the organisation from 2022 to 2026…but we need to create it first!

The future direction of Who Cares? Scotland has to be steered by Members, people with care experience, employees, volunteers and friends of the organisation.

Back in November 2021, a working group was established from a team of employees and volunteers from across all areas of the organisation. This great team have brought together some amazing ideas about how we ensure we are asking all the right people all the right questions in the process of designing a new Strategic Plan. We have started gathering views from our employees and volunteers about what’s gone well over the last four years, what we could have done better, what our future priorities should be, and where we want to go over the next four years. The working group recently ran a session at our Staff Connection Days and Who Cares? Scotland employees had the opportunity to share their views and start thinking about what they want our new Strategic Plan to look like.

We are now fast approaching the most important stage of the plan – where we consult you, our members. So, in April and May, we will be approaching you online and in person through your local teams to offer opportunities for you to shape and steer the plan.

You can tell us what we have done well, what you want to see more of, what you want us to change, where you want to see us go, and you can do it in a way that works for you.

We hope you can help steer us along the exciting road ahead - get your thinking caps on!

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ENTERTAINMENT

Catch Up with

Louise

Thomas and Marissa, WC?S members and members of the National Representative Body (NRB), caught up with our Chief Executive, Louise Hunter, to find out what she’s been up to lately.

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Forward What have been some of your favourite moments so far as Chief Exec?

pandemic and with The Promise underway, and making sure we still had a role to be able to influence key decision makers. It was lovely to be part of that, as I saw the NRB at their best.

The best times have been connecting with members.

Regretfully that hasn’t been very much because we haven’t been able to leave the house for such a long time. One particular memory was climbing Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh as part of our Summer Programme. I got to meet some of the team I hadn’t met, but most importantly I walked with two of our 11 year old members who were so much fun to be with. I don’t think they knew each other at first, and both had different backgrounds, but they connected and chatted and were having fun, and talking about the next step in their journey which was going to high school.

Another was when our NRB met with some politicians [at Care to Connect] during Care Experienced Week. That was a brilliant day. I’ve spent so much time in the job making sure that we have the right platform to influence, particularly as we recover from the

It was fun, and you made the politicians squirm a bit which is good!

It was a really engaging session and it put Who Cares?

Scotland back on the map as an organisation that needs to be listened to.

Forward Can you tell us a bit more about your family?

I talk about my dog all the time because he’s the best!

He’s called Archie, he’s a Westie. He’s the biggest Westie you’ll ever see in your life, and he’s 11. I got him when I was going through a tough time and it was the best decision I’ve made. He’s been with me through lots in my

ENTERTAINMENT life. He’s my best friend. He’s pretty grumpy and hates other dogs. But he loves other people, and his favourite place in the world is the beach.

The other love of my life is my son.

He’s adopted – a member of Who Cares? Scotland – and he will come along to events. He’s 6 and a half, and we adopted him just before his 2nd birthday. He’s been with us for 5 years.

I always knew I was going to adopt. The process was rightly pretty challenging. He’s got so much energy, he’s so fun, and he’s obsessed with football. He just loves life!

He never does what he’s told but that’s fine. He asks lots about what’s going on.

I’m really glad he’s got Who Cares? Scotland, as he’ll go through different things in his life around his identity and he’ll want to reach out to other children who are adopted and other Care Experienced people. It’s important that he has an organisation fighting for his rights and hopefully Who Cares? Scotland will be in his school soon talking about care experience, as it’s important that he isn’t judged for it. I’m really pleased he has Who Cares?

Scotland in his life.

Forward What’s happening for Who Cares?

Scotland at the moment?

Loads, and that’s the challenge! There’s so much going on.

In March, we spoke candidly to STV about The Promise, and we’re now working closely with them so that we understand what’s meant by delivering The Promise.

We hear from our members that The Promise is good, but it doesn’t go far enough and isn’t happening quickly enough. Almost all of our work is making sure that happens.

We know there’s a postcode lottery on services due to how contracts are written, so there’s a lot of work being done to influence that. We’re also trying to influence policy, particularly around making sure that there’s

supports available as young people leave care, as care leavers are unfortunately no longer entitled to some supports. We need to be there for them, so we’re trying to work out what that offer is and push the government to invest in that.

What’s exciting, which we hear from members and staff, is that Development Officers are starting to be able to run groups and activities again and lead out Champions Boards. We see these opportunities as being the route to our members, ensuring that they get what they need from Who Cares? Scotland. We’ve just won a couple big contracts to bring in new Development Officers, and with the new local government elections, we’re trying to push into them to get investment in local areas.

We’re really focused on hearing what our members want locally, as well as nationally.

Forward Do you have any questions for the NRB? I would like to ask, what can we do to improve things for our members and our NRB moving forward?

Thomas: I’d like more opportunities to spend time with members. I feel there’s not been enough of that due to COVID. I’d like to meet with more members and enjoy my time with them, because I feel that’s the best way to understand what they need from us and Who Cares? Scotland.

Marissa: I would agree.

It’s been my favourite part representing members, especially through our Annual Participation Programme, but it would be good to have more informal opportunities to engage with them and find out their views often.

If you have any questions for Louise, you can email them to membership@whocaresscotland.org and we’ll get her to answer them in the next issue of SpeakOut.

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SECTION ENTERTAINMENT

IN IT TO WIN IT… O

nce you have completed the IN IT TO WIN IT page please return it to us by Thursday 26th June 2022 to be in with a chance of winning a £25 voucher of your choice. You can do this by giving the page to your WC?S APW, emailing a photo of your entry to membership@whocaresscotland.org or PMing us it on Facebook.

You can also post it to 40 Wellington St, Glasgow, G2 6HJ. Good luck!

Easter Egg Hunt

The Easter Bunny has hidden 24 easter eggs in the woods. Can you find them all?

Brilliant Bunnies

Can you name the film or cartoon these rabbits are from?

Crack the Code

Can you crack the code and work out how much each symbol is worth?

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Scrambles Eggs

+

Can you unscramble these words?

WO T A DU O CT LE L FR S K NS AH BE A Y C O ES

BI BA RT

YOUR NAME: AGE: PHONE: WC?S WORKER: RETURN YOUR ENTRIES TO: Who Cares? Scotland, 40 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6HJ 26

+ x

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LAST ISSUES WINNERS ARE:

Melissa-13, Kody-19 , Darren-12, Laura-22

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N U F R O F T JUS ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

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TE A L O C CHO

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Sian Wild APW Shetland 07599044615

James Cameron APW Highland & Advocacy Coordinator North 07841 878 953

Paula Campbell APW Moray 07712870335

Rachel Campbell Advocacy & Participation Dev Officer Highland Schools 07597 577 843

Rachel Hewitt APW Shetland 07849 090 687

Kayleigh Griffin Advocacy & Participation Dev Officer Moray CB & Schools 07841 032 885

Angelina Maytum APW Orkney 0784 9087478

Jantine van Loon APW Highland 07850 852 708

Judith King APW Highland & Moray 07583 050 179

Donna Mcleod Bray APW Western Isles 07764 290 921 Abigail Pass APW Angus 07810 570 222

Jessica Varney APW Rossie YP Trust 07849 083 246

DUNDEE OFFICE: 11 Castle Street, Dundee DD1 3AA Tel: 01382 202888 RENFREWSHIRE OFFICE: 25 St James Street, Paisley, PA3 2HQ

Pamela Hynes APW Argyll & Bute & Crossreach 07739 078 244

NORTH NORTH EAST WEST CENTRAL

Heather Nailard APW Argyll & Bute 07769325000

Geraldine Whitson APW West Lothian 07712 870 345

Fiona Simpson APW Glasgow 07787 560 472

Kim Campbell APW Glasgow 07712 870 343

Lauren Hall Development Officer Communities that Care (Renfrewshire) 07731 153 702

Sheryl Kay APW South Ayrshire 07738 195 692

Kerry Connor APW North Lanarkshire 07841 033 019

Alex Horne Development Officer North Ayrshire 07841 033 100

Heather Donaldson Development Officer (Volunteering and Influencing) 07523 512 797

Caroline Breen APW Renfrewshire 07394 418 025

Sharon Edwards APW West Lothian 07779 451 117 Kiera Kerracher APW Edinburgh & Sycamore 07849083003

Karen Kearney APW West Lothian 07523 512 796

Calum Holt Development Coordinator South Lanarkshire 07769 325162

Donald Walker APW Renfrewshire 07712 865958

LANARKSHIRE WEST SOUTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Morag Cantwell APW West Lothian 07523 512 612

Rachel Outram APW Renfrewshire 07985 089 947

Caroline Ironside APW Stirling 07849 084 996

Michelle McAtear APW South Lanarkshire 07841033107

Brenda Ann Murphy McKenna APW North Lanarkshire 07805 541 262

KILMARNOCK OFFICE: Centrestage Neighbourhood, 15 Elmbank Drive, Kilmarnock, KA1 3AE

Mary Bateman APW Falkirk and Stirling 07739 078 247

Morag Cantwell Advocacy Coordinator (Forth Valley) 07523 512 612

Ray MacLean Advocacy Coordinator North Lanarkshire 07523 512 800

Lisa Allan APW North Lanarkshire 07790341265

NATIONAL OFFICE: 40 Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6HJ. Tel: 0141 226 4441 e.mail: membership@whocaresscotland.org

Tracy Maxwell Development Officer Aberdeen 07849 083 246

Sorcha Tams APW Falkirk & Clackmannanshire 07598 580 320

Laura Campbell North Lan Development Officer 07849086191

Ewen Kerr Advocacy Coordinator South Lanarkshire 07970515442

Kelly Laing APW Perth & Kinross 07748 494 341

Jordan Ray APW East Dunbartonshire 07849086681

Mags Corr APW North Lanarkshire 07841033018

Jacqueline McLachlan APW North Lanarkshire 07841033020

Lynne Morris South Lanarkshire 07786 068 138

Paul Lamont APW Dundee 07787436681

Lynne Williamson APW Aberdeenshire 07712 869 576

Amy Goodwin APW Spark of Genius 07971474168

Prajapa Seneviratne Advocacy Coordinator North Lanarkshire 07849 087 753

Suzanne Niven APW North Lanarkshire 07849 083 248

Emma Mackintosh APW Aberdeen CHS 07515 330 681

Jemma Kane Advocacy Coordinator (Kibble) 07540 823 286

Elle Scott APW North Lanarkshire (Mat Cover) 07849 086 188

Kirsteen Wood APW Highland (MAT cover) 07523512610

Sophie Morris APW East Lothian 07985 046739

Kieran Platts Development Officer Edinburgh 07841 033 104

Zoey Hillman Development Officer Renfrewshire 07484 089 832

Denise McMillan APW East Ayrshire 07932 101 076

Ellie Crozier APW Edinburgh 07712 870 390

Lindsay Cook APW East Renfrewshire 07973 801 709

www.whocaresscotland.org

Susan Armstrong APW Midlothian & Borders 07712872078

Lesley-Anne Rafferty APW Edinburgh 07787560471