SpeakOut Summer 2019

SpeakOut WHO CARES? SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

SUMMER 2019

The Future is Bright…

The Future is Harvard Meet Andi and Lauren, WC?S members and this year’s Harvard Summer School scholars, as they prepare to embark on their life changing adventure to one of the best universities in the world.

P22

PLUS!

QUIZ PAGES, SO JUNIOR AND MEET YOUR NEW MSYPS!

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Welcome to the latest is s ... e id s in s t’ a h w t u o k c e h C

Dear readers, I know it might not feel like it, but summer has arrived, so welcome to the Summer 2019 issue of SpeakOut! The bad weather, however, hasn’t stopped Who Cares?

Scotland or you guys from getting stuff done! The First Care Experienced Conference, designed and delivered by Care Experienced people happened in Liverpool and was attended by a group of WC?S members including David, who shares his thoughts on this inspirational day (p1213). Glasgow saw the launch of a new local group called the Community Radicals; looking to take power, be heard and bring about positive change (p14)! Look out for a Community Radicals group coming to your local area. Kevin (Director of Care Experienced Membership) updates us on Who Cares? Scotland’s 40 Years of Us project, the pioneering work of The Collective, and how the two are working together, alongside WC?S members to achieve real change (p20-21). Meet Andi and Lauren, the WC?S members who are swapping Scotland for the US this summer, as they head off on the Harvard Summer School programme (p22). Here at SpeakOut we’re hopeful that the good weather is going to arrive soon, so in preparation Buddy shares his favourite outdoor activities (p30)! But whatever the weather, we hope you all have amazing summers!

Love Katie and the Editorial Team x

Inside this issue 2-3

Welcome Pages

LIFESTYLE 4 5 6-7 8-9 10 11

Celebrating You Celebrating our Volunteers Rae’s Renovation From Care to Where Advocacy Explained No Substitute for Lived Experience

NEWS & EVENTS 12-13 The First Care Experienced Conference 14

The Launch of Community Radicals

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From Moray to Orkney

16-17 WC?S Groups 18-19 Megan Wins Terrific Trustee Award 20

Keeping up with Kev

21

The Collective

22 The Future’s Bright…The Future’s Harvard

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18

23

Your new MSYPs for 2019-2021!

24

Our Lives, Our Stories, Our Records

25

Lisa Checks In

26

1000 Voices

ENTERTAINMENT 27 Media Club 28-29 Quiz Pages

SO Junior 12 2

W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D

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30-31 SO Junior 32

Contact Page

sue of SpeakOut

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Meet the Editorial Team

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you Scan this QR code if gital di would like to see a ut or copy of this SpeakO of ry ra lib check out our to ck ba older issues, right 1979!

Our readers Every quarter SpeakOut is sent out to every Who Cares? Scotland Family Member.

That membership is made up

5% 0-9 years old 20% 10-14 years old 41% 15-19 years old 20% 20-24 years old 6% 25-29 years old 3% 30-34 years old 2% 35-39 years old 3% 40+ years old

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membership@ whocaresscotland.org

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.

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Our youngest member is 1 and our oldest member is 74.

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

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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.

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If you would like to opt out of receiving SpeakOut please email membership@whocaresscotland.org WWHHOO CCAAWhen RREEyou SS??have SSfinished CCO OTTwith LL A N D this magazine please recycle it.

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CelebratingYou! NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Celebrating you is a space for you guys to tell us what you’ve been gett ing up to and to share anything you proud of. We love getting stuff from might be really you, so please send in your poems, stori es, pictures, jokes or tell us about som done, your favourite hobby or a new ething you’ve pet, and we’ll include it in the next issue of SpeakOut. memberhip@whocares

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nd.org – 5 Oswald Street, Gla sgow, G1 4QR

d e t s a rd W Molly Polla

Scenery Not Selfies

You walked away with ur back turned on me I thought to myself this is how it’s gonna be I never really knew what I thought you ooh You only ever cared about yourself I was just a another dusty book on the shelf That you used to be amused

Drimsynie by Kaila 15

ila 15 a K y b p i Inverk

I heard the door in came one after another I knew if I stood my ground I would be a gonna And I tried to protect them But I still never learnt the ways that I could help them I miss you I love you but this is just a better way to deal with it I hate you I need you but I know there is no way to get back this wasted time oh this wasted time Every time I close my eyes I wonder what would happen if I try To disguise your face and try to replace it with someone better The record is on replay we all knew you wouldn’t stay we even bet on it

Largs by Dylan 15

Millport by Leo 13

I heard the door in came one after another I knew if I stood my ground I would be a gonna And I tried to protect them But I still never learnt the ways that I could help them I miss you I love you but this is just a better way to deal with it I hate you I need you but I know there is no way to get back this wasted time oh this wasted time

SSC Awards d by

n Sc otla Leo 15

Sc otland by Molly 17 4

W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D

Paul 16

E

ast Lothian Champions Board were finalists at the SSC awards in the category of Making Change Happen.

Maree Todd was presenting the awards. The board was represented by Charlotte Armitage, Leah Hay, Chloe Scott, Celua Borland and Beth Agnew.

NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Celebrating our Volunteers M

ay was an exciting month for our volunteering team!

Lee and Lynda, 2 fantastic volunteers and WC?S Members, won UWS volunteer recognition awards as well as Lynda sweeping up the Highly Commended Volunteer of the Year 2019 Award! Well done ladies – these are much deserved awards to show recognition for the amazing work you do for Who Cares? Scotland and your fellow members.

The Who Cares? Scotland volunteering team also won the UWS Voluntary Organisation of the Year Award 2019!

Our lovely volunteer, Emma in Clackmannanshire also won Newcomer Volunteer of the Year 2019 Award from Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface. Emma joined our volunteer team in January and has been a fantastic member of the Oor Clacks Voice Group. Well done Emma.

Our volunteer coordinator team, Sarah and Yvonne, have worked hard behind the scenes to continue to make sure our volunteers have the best volunteer journey with us as possible.

They are delighted to tell you that Who Cares? Scotland has achieved the Volunteer Friendly Award which is Awarded for Excellence in Volunteer Management.

That means that all of our volunteer policies, procedures, recruitment plans, training and support opportunities, how we welcome volunteers and retain them, the volunteering opportunities we provide and the experience that volunteers have, how we gather feedback from volunteers, young people and staff and what we do with this information were all accessed and scrutinised. We have now received accreditation as a volunteer programme. Check out

our new logo we can use!

It was National Volunteer Week from the 1st to 7th June and you likely saw some of our amazing volunteer profiles on our Twitter and Facebook! We hosted our very own volunteering team celebration and it was a fantastic night! Thanks to all of our volunteers who came and those that sadly couldn’t make it along.

Thank you to all our members that helped decorate the amazing hearts with thank you messages for each table – they looked incredible!

We reflected on the past year, all the awards we have won and most importantly each and every volunteer received a personal certificate of thanks for the hours they have supported our groups!

Thank you everyone.

Shine a Light on…

Michelle Wilson WC?S Volunteer

Where do you volunteer with us?

Proud to care Inverclyde. I have also been involved with stalls in Waterfront College in Greenock where I’ve talked to students about Who Cares? Scotland and specific projects including Who Cares Aware and Scenery not Selfies.

Tell us a fun fact about you?

I love sharks and can’t resist a rope swing!

How would you describe your volunteering experience with us?

My volunteering experience has been fab. I love getting to be a part of WC?S and getting to work with and for amazing and talented Care Experienced people in Scotland!

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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Rae’s Ren Making Houses into Homes with Mactaggart & Mickel

H

omebuilders Mactaggart & Mickel are our first corporate partner!

They have offered to renovate the homes of a number of Who Cares?

Scotland members for free! This time the lucky applicant was Rae, 19, who lives in Edinburgh.

How did you first get involved with WC?S?

I’ve been a member of Who Cares since 2017 when Susan Armstrong came to visit us at the young person’s centre I was living in. She helped

me out with some advocacy and encouraged me to become a member, which meant I got emails every so often about what was going on and went to the 2017 Time to Shine festival which was in my hometown of Perth – I loved the event!

When did you move into your own home and what was it like?

This was my first forever home, and I moved in March 2019.

Before this I was living in supported accommodation. When I got my keys I was excited but really nervous: it was the

first flat I’ve ever had, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to cope with it on my own. When I first moved in I knew the flat needed some work done, but when I started to strip the walls and saw the mess that had been left underneath, the panic started to set that I might not be able to manage the workload myself. I remember so many nights when I was up thinking, “I don’t think I can do this”. It was really bad.

How did you hear about the Mactaggart & Mickel renovation opportunity?

On Facebook! It was really funny because when I saw the post, I’d spent the full week in tears – I didn’t know what to do with my flat; I was on the phone to housing officers and my mum… when I saw the post it was like a breath of fresh air, it was just perfect timing. I knew I had to apply.

Was it easy to apply?

It was really easy! I just emailed in some details and pictures of my flat and waited to hear back!

How did it feel when you got the call saying your flat had been chosen by the panel for a renovation?

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Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

novation

I actually remember I had my mum and her carer up in the flat when Laurie from WC?S first phoned. When she said I got accepted it was just tears of relief. I remember hanging up the phone and saying “mum guess what – I’ve been accepted for the flat to get done!” I couldn’t contain my excitement. I phoned my throughcare worker to tell her I was so happy for my flat to finally feel like a home.

& Mickel were so friendly, and very professional as well – I relaxed knowing the decorating would be done properly, to a high standard.

The chief executive even donated a brand new double bed and mattress when they saw I didn’t have one, I’ve never slept so well! By the end of day 1 I was feeling much more relaxed in my own home, before that I didn’t feel comfortable. I was so happy with the results that I bought ingredients to make brownies for the workers to say thank you on day 2. They did this amazing thing that benefitted me so much and I love to bake – so it was the only way I could think of to say thank you properly.

On day 2, Ellie from Who Cares spent the day with me. Walking back into the flat and seeing it completely finished, I was struggling to contain my emotions.

All I could say was ‘thank you so much’ over and over! It’s just been amazing having it decorated and knowing I don’t have to feel uncomfortable in my own home. Since its been decorated it’s the most relaxed I’ve been in my own home, and I’ve constantly been on the phone to my mates telling them they have to come round for movie nights – they all love it!

NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS

What would you say to any Who Cares? Scotland members who might be thinking of applying for this opportunity?

Definitely apply! It’s a great opportunity and especially if you’re someone who is really struggling to find people to help decorate. It’s a massive help and you do start to feel a lot more comfortable.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about the makeover?

Just a massive thank you to WCS and Mactaggart & Mickel because it has been a massive help and in the long run it’s going to help with my mental health. It’s made things a lot easier to deal with and made it feels like my Safe Space now.

We will keep you up to date via social media and email about the next home makeover opportunity!

If you’d like to find out more about the Mactaggart & Mickel renovations or to apply, please email: membership@whocaresscotland.org

Tell us about the renovation day itself!

The volunteers from Mactaggart & Mickel said it would take 2 days because there was so much work to be done! One day 1, I remember setting my alarm for 7 in the morning – I got up, had a coffee – I was so hyper! I cleaned the whole flat to make it perfect for them to get started. Susan came to support me to be out the flat while the work was getting done, we had a look around the local charity shops and Susan even bought me a wee tigger teddy! When we returned they’d already done so much! The blue on my bedroom walls looked amazing. The workers from Mactaggart

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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

From Care to

, n o r e m a C y e l Ash r e b m e WC?S M W

hen you come from care no one expects you to achieve educationally, that’s been the norm…well, until recently.

On the 28th of June 2018, after 5 very long and hard years of work, I graduated from the University of Stirling with a Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) Degree in History & Politics. Even just writing that sentence now eight months on still feels weird, as if it’s something that shouldn’t have been, and to be honest, it almost didn’t happen, but I am so glad that it did.

I grew up thinking that university was a pipe dream, not for people like us, but how wrong I was. A university campus is a rich, diverse and open-minded place, where dreamers, doers and thinkers can share thoughts, debate ideas and most importantly support one another through the gruelling deadlines, confusing reading and group presentations. I could not have got through university life without my group of friends Ross, Rachel and Molly. I also received support from everyone at Who Cares? Scotland and had an amazing mental health mentor (Michelle) who was allocated to me by the university. In my last and most important year it was my partner Frank who held me up and when I said I wanted to quit, he was the one telling me to just get it done!

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I joined societies such as the Rock Society (we had a blast) and the Stirling Labour Students Society (we had a lot of fun there too), these groups provided me with more friends than I could ever have imagined. Friends who supported each other when you were at your lowest.

I think that’s the standout theme for my time at university: the value of friendship and support.

I graduated from university with a 2nd class, upper division grade and received a 1st classification for my dissertation which was about our journey to achieve Continuing Care in Scotland. I am very proud of it, as so much work, stress and tears went into writing it, but I hope that it serves as a reminder for future generations that we have the power to make change happen when we come together as one.

Graduation day itself was amazing, I was so surprised and thankful to have our own Claudia Macdonald show up at my graduation with a glorious bouquet of flowers to celebrate. I was proud to have my older brother there too, as we were separated as kids when I entered the care system. My partner Frank was there too and as I crossed the stage to receive my boop on the head by the chancellor, I could hear everybody clapping, my brother and Frank clearly cheering the loudest for me. Graduation was over in no time at all, which after 5 long years to get there was a bit of an anti-climax but then I got out into the blaring sunshine and there was my aunt and uncle waiting to congratulate me. I cried, they cried, it was a bit of a mess but then we sorted ourselves out and went over to the pond to get some photos. My former religious studies teacher from Balfron High School very

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Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Where?

thoughtfully offered to take the official photos which I gratefully accepted, and they turned out just lovely.

During my time at uni, I never stopped pushing for change for the benefit of all Care Experienced people, so much so that the university awarded me Student of the year for all my hard work. You can currently see my face in the 2020 Undergraduate Prospectus. The university also saw fit to nominate me for a British Education Award, which I was shortlisted for and attended a fancy event in Manchester. Whilst I didn’t win, it was a lovely ceremony and a chance to see all the talent that the UK has to offer.

Going to university opened my world to more than I could have asked for, new ideas, new friendships, learning when to ask for support, but more importantly, it showed me that I: Ashley Cameron am an intelligent, passionate and knowledgeable Care Experienced individual with the whole world at my feet. Believe me when I say, if I can do it, then you can too.

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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE

SpeakOut OutMagazine Magazine| SUMMER | SPRING 2019 Speak

y c a c o v d A d e n i a l p x E 3 1 – y e c Ka

What has it done for you?

One of t things he many Who C ar Scotla nd offe es? rs i advoca cy. WC? s S Memb e tells u r, Kacey, s what t means hat .

Kacey (left) and Nicole, her advocate

Advocacy is something that helps you voice your opinion with the help of an advocate.

Advocacy is really helpful and can help you get things sorted out even if you don’t want to say it yourself. Like if you wanted contact with one of your siblings, you can voice your opinion about this and your advocate can help you tell the right people.

What is advocacy?

What I really like about advocacy is I can tell people how I feel, even if it is through my advocate Nicole, it means they still know how I am feeling about things.

What would you say to someone who is thinking of using advocacy?

If you don’t have an advocate please at least just give it a try because it will help you with a lot.

Advocacy has done a lot for me, it has given me confidence to speak out and voice my opinion on how my life should be and it has also helped me with public speaking.

If I could describe advocacy in one word I would say its outstanding.

I think the reason advocacy works is because of the relationship between you and your advocate. If you want them to help you, you need to trust them. I trust Nicole and I think this is why it works.

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ares?

Who C has nd 2 Scotla 0 out of 3 3 e n f you’r ates i advoc thorities. I check , au pport this u local s r o of gf lookin back page t who e u out th e to find o e is at zin maga ocal advoc h. l uc your t in to e g d an

NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS

SPRING 2019 Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

No Substitute for

Lived Experience Mind Of My Own are a company that believe that young people should be able to participate fully in their lives and that it should be easy for them to speak up anytime they want. To help with this they have created digital participation tools. Currently, that translates as two co-produced apps for children and young people who use health, care and education services.

Cameron, is a Member of WC?S and the newest member of the Mind of My Own team. Read what he has to say about putting your experience to good use.

Nobody had a clue

Methodically sifting through the stacks of paperwork, one thing became clear: None of these people really had a clue what I’d been going through.

Six months after submitting my subject access request, I was rewarded with a large cardboard box stuffed full of loose unsorted printouts documenting the entire history of my involvement with my local authority.

From early warning signs of neglect, through child protection hearings, my emergency care order, and all of the assorted documentation associated with my tumultuous journey through the Scottish foster system.

Whose memories?

Time and time again I found my memory at odds with the official story. A collection of interpretations of my lived experience seen through snapshot meetings and information

passed from professional to professional as reports were gathered and collated. It was only in the rare places I’d been consulted (or asked to submit evidence) that I found the authenticity I needed to help me piece my history together. The electrifying experience of being reconnected to my own past perspectives nestled amongst the contents of papers as sterile and lifeless as the trees they used to be.

Speaking from the heart

This was the story I told when I was invited to interview for Mind of My Own, an organisation aiming to amplify the voices of vulnerable young people using technology to allow them to say what they need to say, in their own format, as and when it suits them. Plugging their perspectives directly into the services designed to protect them. I spoke from the heart

and told my interviewers that access to something like the One app would have made a difference for me. To have been able to express myself knowing people were listening. Knowing that my journey could have been less of a rocky one. Knowing social services would have been able to spot the early warning signs of my imminent violent placement breakdown and been able to step in earlier, preventing my post-care life starting with a spell of homelessness.

I can make a difference

Mind of My Own recognised the value in my experience and perspective and asked me to join the team. They work smartly, in a distributed digital fashion – and in the short time I’ve known them I’ve discovered to my delight that we’re perfectly ethically aligned.

It also helps that they’re friendly to a fault.

Knowing how much richer that subject access request data-dump would have been had my perspectives been woven through those files, I’m galvanised to do everything in my power to make sure the children of the Scottish care system have access to Mind of My Own services. Because I know for a fact this is a way I can help make a difference.

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NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

The First Care Experienced Conference ember M S ?

C W , m m ri G id av D

O

n the 26th of April I travelled south to Liverpool in order to attend the first ever Care Experienced conference, when I say first ever, I mean the first designed in whole by and for Care Experienced people throughout the world.

It has been several weeks since I attended the conference and I would like to take a moment to reflect upon the experience with you. I think in reflecting it would be a mistake to leave out the build-up and preparation of the event.

So, for several months before the conference, there were many Care Experienced people (CEP) on social media working to encourage and

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promote attendance. People asked, “what’s special about this conference?”

In my opinion, what made this event attractive to over 200 attendees, was its design by a panel of CEP who have generations of lived experience and are still very much aware of issues still affecting young people currently in care.

The multi-generational approach meant the conference included inputs from teenagers who’d travelled from jersey, all the way through to an eighty-year-old care leaver who honoured the room with her experiences. There was also an international presence including people from Ireland and Australia.

Arriving to the conference, we were met by a sea of smiling faces from CEP who had gathered together to share their lives and experiences with complete strangers – some of whom had met through twitter and were calling each other the Twitterati. The

only commonality that we knew of, at this point, was that we all had some version of lived care experience. On top of the smiling faces, we were presented with a wonderful tote bag, key ring, t shirt (all emblazoned with the conference logo) and a raffle voucher for all care experienced members in attendance, only to find out later that the raffle would be art/ books etc that other CEP had created!

(I won Ishbel Holmes’ Book and I am so so very excited to get it read.)

Everyone seemed to make friends

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Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

and allies, although that’s not to say the day wasn’t without its struggles. At times it was overwhelming, wonderful and inclusive, but also emotionally overwhelming.

There was the most incredible art display including poetry, drawings and paintings. One of my favourite pieces was a massive set of angel wings each feather had been designed and sent from CEP across the UK. My own artwork was reviewed with elegance by a fourteen-year-old from jersey, it was incredible to listen to someone else explain my work. There was even painted stones, that had a different cover from a book painted on them!

The day itself was made up of different workshops and discussions.

I attended a workshop that looked at the history of care leavers, I think it may have been a bad choice for me as it was primarily focused on past generations and though this was extremely insightful, I found it hard

to contribute to the discussion. That being said, the little I did contribute, seemed to provoke conversation, including references to the presentday Independent Care Review, council tax exemption etc.

My second workshop of the day was a discussion around mental health, where of course I opened the chat in the room (not a vocal person at all lo). I suggested we discuss the pros and cons of sibling separation around the UK with respect to mental health, and the room near exploded, with positive discussion and interest.

This conversation was beautifully chaired by Bernadette Mcbride (CEP author) and throughout the day, there was a graphic artist recording the conversations and capturing the essence of the day.

I asked fellow WC?S member Lee Davidson who had also attended the conference how she felt the day had been, she replied “I found the hope and

expectation expressed by others who were looking to Scotland for guidance on how to achieve bigger change was both heart warming and heart wrenching at the same time.”

We both agreed, that whilst it was inspiring that everyone had come together to challenge a broken system, lots of the aspirations weren’t aspirational enough. We wanted people to think bigger and be braver but I suppose for many of the attendees this is the start, so I look forward to helping them continue and enhance their goals for the future.

I cannot wait to continue this collaborative, worldwide, family feel approach to tackling issues the care system. And I would suggest that all Care Experienced individuals and their allies, get behind this movement and promote any future endeavours.

Do I smell a love rally down south?

London anyone?

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NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

The Launch of s l a c i d a R y t i n u m m Co A

t the end of May a group called the Community Radicals (Glasgow) was born. The Community Radicals is made up of Who Cares? Scotland members who want to connect with each other and engage in conversations around activism and change in the Care System. You may have heard of a group called the Young Radicals before, ComRads is what it has evolved into – a space for campaigners of any age!

The first session was attended by a mix of Young Radicals and completely new members who were curious about whether Community Radicals was a space for them. There was a range of ages, experiences and history in the room, united by their shared passion and drive to make real impactful change.

Introductory icebreakers finished. Members were given the chance to think about how they could communicate with the 40 Years of Us Evidence Group - the group collecting evidence from WC?S’s 40 year history, presenting it to the Working Groups for categorising, who then pass it onto The Collective, who will use it to create our recommendations to the Independent Care Review (see page 21 for more info on all of this!). This included questions they might like to ask or topics they would like to explore that fitted with the themes of the Working Groups Love, Equality, Rights & Respect.

After a delicious dinner of burritos, Beth (a WC?S Membership Officer and member of the Rights & Respect Working Group) came to deliver a session on Rights & Respect. The group members were asked to look at a selection of rights as set out by the UNCRC and to discuss what it looks like when these rights are upheld and what it looks like when they’re compromised. Beth then asked for members to share an example of when they felt their rights had been compromised, Beth then took these as evidence for the Rights & Respect Working Group to use. All in all a pretty productive first meeting!

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2 weeks later the Community Radicals met again. This time they looked at how the Community Radicals can work alongside Who Cares? Scotland in the coming year. They started exploring their expectations of what the Community Radicals could be and how Who Cares? Scotland would support them to achieve this goal. The Glasgow Community Radicals are the first of their kind but WC?S are looking to replicate their model in other local authorities. The idea being that there will be a network of Community Radical groups across Scotland working towards a shared goal but with local community influence. Now that’s an exciting vision for the future!

If you think your area would be a good place to set up a Community Radicals group then let us know by emailing membership@whocaresscotland.org.

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

From Moray to Orkney

Curtis Reid, WC?S Member & Participation Assistant

T

he Orkney trip set off from the depths of Moray, through Inverness and then started towards Gills Bay. On board our bus was two of my Who Cares? Scotland colleagues and two other young people from Moray’s Champions Board.

The ferry ride took just over an hour and a half. During this time, myself and the two young people were on the top deck of the ferry looking out at the horizon searching for our destination and taking in all the scenery.

After sailing into St. Margaret’s Hope, we drove to Kirkwall. During this drive we went over water barriers that are a way for people to travel over the little islands that surround Orkney. As we came into Kirkwall our first stop was to go to the nearest supermarket and then go for a wee wander around the area while my colleagues got the last few things for the weekend.

From there we drove to Stromness which was where we were going to stay for the weekend in an Air b‘n’b.

When we arrived, we went into our accommodation and picked our rooms.

Once we were settled, we spent some time planning how the presentation was going to go the next day. Then it was time to relax! We went over to the Shetland group’s house and caught up with them. Then it was time for bed.

On day 2 we headed back to Kirkwall for the presentation at the ‘Growing up in Orkney’ conference. It looked set to be a long and very rewarding day, as this would be the first time

some of us had to speak in front of a large audience. The audience would be made up of professionals to do with the care sector in Orkney. When we arrived at the venue, we had to unload the van of all our props in the wind and rain of storm Eric! Once we set everything up, we prepared for the first presentation of the day and stood behind the stage-curtains ready to come on.

The Shetland group began by talking about what in means to be a Care Experienced young person. They got the audience involved by getting them to draw a picture of themselves when they were 8 years old. Then they asked two members of the audience to come up on stage, to put blind folds on and be moved around the stage by two of the young people. This was meant to resemble what it is like when a child is moved around from family to family. Then it was up to us in Moray to do our part of the presentation.

We described our Champions Board and some of the statistics about care in Moray. Then we spoke about projects that our corporate parents are progressing. After we had finished, we gave the professionals a chance to come up on stage and look at the art pieces that we had brought along from our ‘Journeys in the North’ Art Exhibition that we held in Inverness last summer. Then we had lunch before having to deliver the presentation again to a different group of professionals.

That evening we prepared dinner for both the Moray and Shetland groups.

Once it was prepared, we brought it over to the Shetland house and ate with them. The rest of the night was time to relax and enjoy what ever we were doing. Then it was time for sleep!

On Day 3, some of us who were interested drove to Skara Brea for a tour around the historical site to see how people lived there thousands of years ago. After that we went to the ring of Brodgar and the standing stones of Stenness. Later that day we went to an American diner for dinner where there was thirteen of us sitting round the table.

On the last day, we said goodbye to the Shetland group before beginning the long journey back to Moray. By about 5pm, the road was behind us and we could now relax in the comfort of our own homes whilst contemplating our amazing trip.

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Shetland

NEWS & EVENTS Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

•

South Ayrshire (8+): Fun, food & friends .

South Ayrshire Cham pions Board: Young people changing care.

For more info contac t Sheryl.

• North Ayrshire: Fortnightly group fo r 5–11 year olds.

• Care 4 Ayrshire : Fortnightly group fo r 12+ For more info contac t Jemma Kerr.

• East Ayrshire: St arts in August for ag es 11-16. Fortnightly on a Tuesday, 4:30-6:3 0. Ayrshire college, Ki lmarnock Campus.

For more info contac t Denise or Rachel.

The Wizards: Under 16s in foster care, kinship care and who are looked after at home.

Every second Sunday . Fun activities such as cin ema trips and arts and crafts.

• Young Voices: 16 + Care Experience people.

The group meet to discuss their care experience and talk about how they can make chan ges for other Care Experienc ed young people.

For more info contac t Ewen K or Lynne M.

•

2BHeard: Fun, food & friends.

For more info call Scot.

•

Fife Groups Champions Board/ YPPG: Youn g people changing ca re.

For more in fo call Cind y or Leah.

• Tayside Care2Create : Arts & crafts.

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East Renfrewshire Groups

people changing care.

• Champions Board: Young Fun, food & friends.

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For more info contact Donal care. ng people transitioning from • Care Leavers Group: You s & crafts for under 10s.

• The Diamonds group: Art s. d & friends for 11-16 year old • Johnstone Drop: Fun, foo all ages.

• Care to Play: Football for For more info contact Julie.

Renfrewshire Groups

Kibble Group: Fun, food & friends.

For more info contact Jemma Kane.

• Coming soon …

For more info co ntact Beth S

East Dunbartonshire Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

NEWS & EVENTS

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Megan wins Terrific A e w e t s ard u r T M

egan Sutherland first heard about Who Cares? Scotland when she was 15 years old. She joined our board at 17 and became Vice-Chair at 21. On Friday 14th June, Megan won the Terrific Trustee award at the Scottish Charity Awards. Here she explains why she’s proud to be a trustee at Who Cares? Scotland and her journey with the charity.

In care, I couldn’t wait to grow up to be able to make decisions for myself.

My life was frustratingly determined by too many professionals who felt distant and by processes that never asked or gave priority to what I wanted. I don’t believe anyone goes into social care or writes policy to negatively impact someone’s life. I often used to imagine how different it could be if people were allowed to do what was right, what was needed, and what their heart told them to rather than being constrained by a dusty handbook.

My education was disrupted by being moved around as a child.

My finances weren’t enough to let me travel to my job or counselling appointments when I was encouraged to stand on my own two feet. I left care and didn’t have an emergency contact to put on what started to feel like an endless amount of forms that asked for them. I was stigmatised and had nobody to ask for help either side of the hours of 9-5.

I wanted to go to university, have a job where I could change people’s

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lives, travel the globe and have a loving, stable family. I knew that practically none of those things were guaranteed because I had been in care. It was so difficult even finding a landlord who would let me sign a lease without a guarantor.

The first interaction I had with Who Cares? Scotland was when an advocate visiting my residential unit. I asked her for help with a legal process.

This wasn’t something she could do, but she surprised me by going above and beyond. She came back to me

with child-friendly books containing the information I needed and contact details of people who could help me. Who Cares? Scotland seemed to care more about what I needed than what their job descriptions said their working day should typically be. This was unusual and after that I trusted her.

I have met hundreds of people who, like me, have been limited by processes. People who have been denied loving, lasting relationships.

People who see those who were in

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

care before them struggle to find a good path because they were on their own, far from their potential and aspirations. Some of them are no longer here and it’s just not good enough. For me, it’s the most burning

“

I joined Who Cares?

Scotland to speak up about it because it has to radically change, and it has to change fast.

”

social injustice. It’s where those who have slipped through the cracks slip even further. I joined Who Cares?

Scotland to speak up about it because it has to radically change, and it has to change fast. Who Cares? Scotland is leading a revolution for a lifetime of equality, respect and love for care experienced people and I feel

compelled in my heart to do all I can to help.

We changed the law in 2014, creating the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act. Support for Care Experienced people has dramatically increased in so many ways. The public understanding of us is changing and people who had never been in care were proudly marching in our Love Rally. Over 100 people who have left care and feel isolated come together every year on Christmas Day to eat turkey and be with a different kind of family.

But I’m still terrified for the children today who are being taken into care. I hear people say we should stop talking about poor statistics, that they enforce stigma. I understand the point but I wish I could see people change their practice with the same conviction and speed.

I can’t stop speaking up until our outcomes are equal to our classmates, and we have loving, lasting relationships throughout our lifetime, in stigma-free communities. I believe love should be a human right because I have seen what happens to people

who don’t experience it.

Standing with others, who had shared the hardest parts of their life in order to bring about change for children they will never know, whilst we watched the First Minister announce a root and branch review of Scotland’s care system was the proudest I have ever felt in my life.

We cried, we hugged and we felt renewed energy and determination for our movement. It gave me hope and confidence that our mission for equality, respect and love for every Care Experienced adult, child and baby in Scotland will be achieved within my lifetime.

Duncan, Chief Executive at WC?S, had this to say about Megan’s achievement, “We’re really proud of Megan. Its not always been easy for her, as it isn’t for many of us, but she has overcome adversity to get where she is today. Megan believes in what we are doing and finds purpose in our mission, but is not afraid to be constructively critical. She is also a kind and compassionate young woman to all those who have a need.

Thanks Megan for all that you do.”

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NEWS & EVENTS

Keepin g

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

up with

Kev

Kevin Browne-McLeod W

ho Care’s Scotland is 41 years old! We are getting older and with each year, comes experience. For generations we have been listening to you tell us about what matters in your life. Over four decades you have told us about important issues like being separated from your brother or sister, love needing to be at the heart of your experience of care and the need for laws to be different to protect you. Our role has been to listen, champion and challenge, supporting you to be at the heart of your own care journey.

This year we are going through an important process of gathering all the evidence and knowledge that you have shared with us and using this to influence change. Why? Because some of the issues experienced in 1978 are the are the exact same as today. That is not good enough.

This year we have decided that we need to be bolder in our approach to challenge the stigma and discrimination that we have faced as Care Experienced people for decides.

We know that we are capable, talented people who can achieve our dreams.

In-fact, on that note, we are sending two of our members to Harvard Summer School in America, one of the best university’s in the world, proving no challenge is too big.

The information that we have been gathering will be used to influence the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, The National Confidential Forum and The Independent Care Review. Although each of these processes and forums 20

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are unique, they all invite people with experience of care to share their views and use this to improve things and drive change.

Our project is called ‘40 years of Us’, which also relies on The Collective, a group of Care Experienced people who come together to represent our broader membership, call for action and change. There are three main areas that The Collective are looking at.

Rights and Respect In June we will be calling on decision makers to uphold the rights of Care Experienced people. Ensuring that regular and frequent abuse of our rights stop. Over the last 10 years we have supported 20,000 rights issues to be heard, challenged and understood.

We will be publishing a report on this and calling for immediate action to ensure our rights are protected.

Love We know that love needs to be part of our care journey but what does this look like day today? We will be working with members to better understand what this looks like from our perspective, based on our information and evidence, as well as engaging with people across Scotland and The Collective. Once we do this, we will share our findings.

Equality Have you ever been picked on because you are Care Experienced?

Have you been judged or stopped

doing something because you have experience of care? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you will be happy to know that In February we called for the First Minister to back a Public Education Campaign. We want Scotland to better understand who we are and the need for stigma and discrimination to not exist. We were successful in this ask and are in the process of working out what this will look like. Over the next 6 months we will be looking at other areas we can experience inequalities, this will include in law, policy and practice.

Underpinning this work we will be looking at what a lifetime of support and understanding looks and feels like.

We know it can be challenging when people leave care, someone once told me “you never really leave care, care leaves you”, we want to change that.

We are committed to making sure that when the state intervenes in your life there is lifelong commitment and support.

In October we will publish our own Manifesto, this is a document that will outline our position on all of these matters, we will then campaign to ensure that this manifesto drives change. As an independent membership organisation, its important that we protect our voice and continue to challenge, collaborate and call for action within this unique and privileged space.

Thank you, K

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

T

e v i t c e l l o C e Th

he Collective has just met for the 5th time and the day felt unique, exciting and powerful as 23 Collective members aged 15 to 50, representing 13 different local authorities spent the day discussing Equality, Love, Rights & Respect.

The Collective has been looking at anonymous data from all of the advocacy cases Who Cares? Scotland workers have done over the last 20 years and made a list of the most common problems Care Experienced people ask for help with.

Top 10 Reasons WC?S Advocates are asked for Help 7.

Living Environment “I want to change something about where I stay.”

8. Contact with Extended Family

“I have an extended family and I want to share my views about seeing them.”

9. School

“I’m facing barriers to learning and achieving in school. I want to remove them.”

10. Request to Return Home

“I don’t want to live away anymore. I want to go home.”

1. Formal Processes “there’s a legal decision being made and I want to have a say.”

2. Contact with Parents “I’ve got a view on when, where and how often I want to see my parents.”

3. Care Planning “I need to have a say over how my day to day care is going.”

4. Contact with Brothers and Sisters “I’ve been separated from my brothers and sisters. I want to see them.”

5. Education and Training “I need to have a say over how my education is going.”

6. Placement Moves “I’m being moved/I want to move. I need my view to be heard.”

these issues or anything If you need help with any of details of your local Who else, you can find the contact the back of this magazine or Cares? Scotland advocate on Scotland office for help on call the national Who Cares?

01412264441.

n by Care Experienced letters and reports writte ich wh as are y talk about key six are re the last 20 years where the r ove ple The Collective believe the peo d tion, health, Experienced people an ocacy and help with educa adv ing ed have challenges for Care ne n, ws that Home, Love, Educatio and employment, which sho ng usi ho e, must be tackled – Health, lov n bility. They have writte l and Care Experienced Employment and Accounta these issues are historica ask to , on a long time. rge Stu ola Nic , ter been asking for change for ve ha ple a letter to the First Minis Peo time, with the Independent Advocacy believe this is an exciting ve cti lle Co e her to make sure there is Th en giv finally change and care in Scotland and y for the Care System to nit rtu po available to every child in op in de pulation the loving vements can be ma nd’s care experienced po tla Sco e suggestions on what impro giv ect aff te uld have an immedia these key areas which wo childhoods they deserve. munity. To back up these com d nce rie pe Ex re Ca for the e Collective have included asks and suggestions, Th

Next be ce month T abou lebrating he Collect , t atten love with thinking ive will and t ding t he 1 a W Colle ctive C?S Sum 50 camp lking ers mer C want love m to am best eans to th ask mem p. The carer e b m ers w and s. I but y h ou w f you’re n what ma at a ot co kes t nt to mem he ming get i ber whoc ship team nvolved, e to camp ares ma (me to yo scotland. mbership il the ur loc org) @ o Scotl al Who C r speak ares? and w orker .

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The Future’s Bright...

The Future’s Harvard

S

ince 2010 Who Cares? Scotland has supported Care Experienced young people to attend a Summer School at Harvard University in Boston, USA. 2019’s Who Cares? Scotland and SQA scholars are Andi and Lauren from Orkney and Bo’ness. SpeakOut chatted to them about the adventure they’re about embark on.

Andi Harvard for me, is a place of dreams.

It’s the kind of place you only hear about in movies and seems more like a whimsical fantasy instead of a reality. Renowned for having a rigorous selection process, despite my motivation to apply, I never allowed myself to believe I’d make it past the first hurdle. It just goes to show that no matter how small a chance you may think you may have, it might just be the lucky break you deserve.

I have felt ashamed of my care background before and tried to avoid discussing it as much as I could but realising that people who know I’m Care Experienced also believe that I can attend such a prestigious university and succeed has drastically changed my opinions and self-doubt. I now realise that being Care Experienced is not a limitation, and anything is achievable if you want it enough.

The thing I’d say I’m most excited for is Harvard’s famous Annenberg Hall, which is basically a mirror image of the Hogwarts Great Hall in Harry Potter. The variety of cuisine they offer is mind-blowing, and the best part is… it’s all you can eat. Every day. It’s fair to say I’m going to gain a few pounds, but it’s all in good taste.

I’m really keen to get stuck into my courses as they will provide a great foundation for what I intend to study at university next year. The thing is, it’s not just an opportunity, it’s an experience and it’s fair to say this is going to be something I’ll never forget.

Lauren Harvard… a place I only knew of through American TV shows and movies. A place where only the best of the best are accepted and nothing less. Harvard University isn’t a place I ever thought my name would be associated with, especially as a young

Care Experienced teenager from Bo’ness.

As a Track and Field Athlete, I am most excited about potentially training at the Harvard Athletics stadium and seeing their famous Football Stadium which can hold 30,323 people! My courses will also mean I get to study in some of the best academic facilities in the world, all whilst learning to live independently for the first time.

Overall, I look forward to making the most of what Harvard has to offer and hopefully making friendships that will last a lifetime.

Chances like these are what give children in care hope for a brighter future. I believe it is so important for every child in the system to realise that they have the potential to achieve whatever they put their mind to. We have to be able to focus on ourselves at such important stages in life.

When I come back, I’m looking forward to staying in contact with new friends, as well as coming away with credits from my Harvard exams and using all I have learned to help me decide what I would like to do at University in future.

We can’t wait to see Lauren and Andi’s own Harvard movies! Look out for their vlogs on WC?S social media pages and on our scholars’ own pages: Andi on Instagram: @andiwolfninja Lauren on Instagram: @laurentennmills

Andi

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Lauren

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Your new MSYPs for 2019-2021!

Earlier this year, elections were held for the next Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament represen ting Care Experienced members of WC?S (aged 12-25)! After an exhilarating campaign period we are proud to introduce your next MSYPs: the new kid on the block: Chloe Wyper and, returning for a second term, Helen Johnston!

Helen Johnston

Chloe Wyper

Recent events have had me reflecting on the way I have grown and changed in the past few years. It’s crazy thinking about the shy, reserved, scared and vulnerable girl I once was not too long ago. Living in a situation where other people controlled the way I lived my life, I had to conceal who I was, including the fact that I was bisexual. I was told what I should want by those that were supposed to care for me, told what I could do by those in authority. My goals in life were set by their standards.

But that’s all changed because I was able to find my voice. I was able to find my voice in a system that told me I’d never get to university, a system that set me up to fail and a system who’s effects had me likely to be in prison or dead by the time I reached my twenties.

Now feel like an equal in my own life, I feel like myself.

And although I know I am the main reason for that, I know it’s the people around me that have helped shape me. Mainly those people I met through being involved with Who Cares? Scotland. These people have championed my voice, accepted who I am without judgement and always told me I could do anything I put my mind to.

And that is why I am excited to continue to work as an MSYP for Who Cares? Scotland and more importantly for you, because there is nothing more important than voice.

Nothing more important than ensuring that every single person is heard and that everyone’s voice is valued.

Voice is what allows us to communicate, allows us to grow and most importantly allows us to shape the world around us. I want to ensure that each and every young member of Who Cares? Scotland feels like they can make a difference to the systems and processes around them.

For the longest time, the Care Experience voice has been silent.

I have been fighting for Care Experience equality since I was 15 years old. I have learnt how my own voice has power and have grown as an activist for radical change. Now, 6 years later, I want to dedicate that time to strengthening the voice of my fellow Care Experienced people as your next MSYP. I believe that the Scottish Youth Parliament is an important and essential platform for members of Who Cares? Scotland. It’s imperative for us to reach new audiences and make new allies, outside the confines of the care sector. What better audience than the biggest youth forum in Scotland!

I’m excited to be the next MSYP for the members of Who Cares? Scotland because I believe in the importance of an honest and direct communication between our members and the Scottish government.

For the past 40 years, Who Cares? Scotland has been amplifying the Care Experienced voice.

Individuals have become a movement and we are making historic change together. For the continued success of that movement, your voice will be vital. Your opinions and experiences matter. They matter to Scotland and they matter to me. I will work hard to learn and be the best MSYP I can be. I will connect with new allies and push for real change for all Care experienced people.

There’s never been a better time than right now – I’m all in – let’s do this.

in embers , m r u o o out SYP ut out t Big sho eats too! Look to stay! ls re regiona d Gary are he n a Marissa

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Our Lives, Our Stories, Our Records n g i a p m a c d le r e b m Me for change!

S

ince the end of 2018, Who Cares? Scotland members have been campaigning to change how the records created about a person in care are written, accessed and viewed across Scotland. This is an issue that older Care Experienced members have decided to act on after realising many of them had faced similar barriers and difficulties.

Here’s an overview from the members involved, of the issues they’ve been tackling and how you can also get involved!

We are a group of WC?S members who are passionate about creating change to how care records are accessed and written. It is important that professionals and those working to improve and create new systems for accessing records about Care Experienced people, ensure that the lived experience of those people are central to shaping and influencing the design and implementation of any changes.

Personal information in records is currently viewed in legislation as “data”, however, we want it to be acknowledged as more than this. Records about someone’s life are key to them understanding their life story, creating integrity of experience, building self-esteem and can also have the power to create new meanings for life events.

It has been shared multiple times by our members that being in care can be connected with a lack of memories, or at least clear memories, which help shape how you view what happened in your life, why it happened and when.

We strongly believe that accessing records can, for some people, be part of a journey to finding out who you were when you were younger.

Therefore, it is important to make clear that the purpose of records is not only to evidence what has happened, in a way which serves the needs of the sector and professionals, but also to create a narrative for the individual.

To access records, a person has to fill out a ‘Subject Access Request’ to the local authority which holds the records about them. The process can be bureaucratic and uncaring.

Records can also be lost, incomplete or they are often out of order. This can be made worse by them being illegible and difficult to read. Sometimes there can be risk-averse attitudes shown to Care Experienced people requesting information, with questions such as “why do you want them?” and “what will you do with them?”. ‘Redaction’ is when information is removed before the record is given out – the way this is done is not consistent and can seem over the top.

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The content of records can be extremely difficult to understand and make sense of, adding confusing new information or providing conflicting perspectives on life stories, timelines and how specific events occurred. It can be distressing to read how professionals have spoken about a Care Experienced person and the people important to them in their files and judgemental comments can be extremely upsetting.

Ultimately, we want to see records which are designed to be viewed in future or at the time they are created, by the very individuals being written about.

Want to join the campaign?

So far, the group have achieved A LOT - taking part in three external events, delivering workshops to professionals, sharing their lived experience in the media, publishing a report with recommendations for change and meeting regularly to think about how records relate to Care identity. However, the work is far from over and they want to hear from you if you’re passionate about this issue and want to join this member-led campaign!

To get involved, please e-mail Beth Agnew from the Membership Team: bagnew@whocaresscotland.org

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Lisa Checks In T

his issue we’re getting our update on the Independent Care Review from Lisa Muirhead, the Co-Chair of the Components of Care work group, who also tells us why she believes it’s a ‘review like no other’.

Being asked to co-chair the Components of Care work group in the Journey stage of the Independent Care Review is such an honour and privilege.

There’s nothing I could be more dedicated, more passionate and committed to.

My first involvement with the Care Review was through the Life Changes Trust Advisory Group, which Fiona, the Chair of the Review, visited several times.

Before any involvement with the Review I was sceptical of how the First Minister was going to deliver on her promises to the Care Experienced community.

After Fiona visited the Advisory Group several times and supported one of the Go:To groups, which peer reviewed the Care Review’s 12 Intentions, I moved from being sceptical into believing that this was ‘a review like no other’. That it would be driven and delivered by those who have lived experience, is why I was delighted to join the team.

The Components work group is made up of 17 members who bring a range of skills, qualities and experience. Components,

like every Care Review work group, has the support of an administrator, a project co-ordinator, a link team member from the secretariat and two cochairs. For Components that’s myself and Martin Dorchester, CEO of the charity Includem who work with vulnerable children and young people.

The Components work group have been tasked with exploring how we create a ‘system’ that meets the needs of the individual, and not the individual having to meet the system.

We’re taking a Three Horizons approach and looking at the third horizon, which means if we were to start again and create a new ‘care system’, what would that look like without any constraints and barriers? What would it look like if we worked back from there? This avoids getting stuck in trying to fix the current system.

We’ve also been tasked with understanding and mapping out a day, week, month, and year in the life of children in care, to help the Review understand this more fully - especially the impact of moves, transitions and the need for ongoing support.

To understand how supporting children and families should be

Would you like to know more about the Care Review or involved?

• Email: participationhub@carereview.scot • Visit www.carereview.scot • Follow @TheCareReview on twitter and @carereviewscot on Instagram

get

shaped by their needs and not influenced by the availability of resources, Components of Care decided to form a focus group with our colleagues from other work groups.

The Care Review belongs to the Care Experienced community, those who have any lived experience of the care system, and those who care for our children.

The Participation Hub would like to listen to anyone who wishes to have their voice heard, always in a safe and supported way that works best for you as an individual and/or as a group.

My hopes are that the Care Review will help those who feel powerless to feel empowered.

That we will move from having a system that safeguards young people, to one that loves and nurtures them with lifelong relationships. Everyone deserves to have someone who is as crazy about them, like I am with my nieces and nephews.

Lisa W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D

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NEWS & EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

ROADSHOW EVENTS!

These events will showcase the work of participation groups and individuals with experience of care from all over Scotland through exhibitions and workshops.

There will be a range of work shown, including artwork, music, writing and films!

You’ll also hear updates on the Care Review, get to meet the Co-Chairs of the work groups and take part in a Q&A session.

North: Inverness Saturday 8th June

South: Oasis Youth Centre, Dumfries

Saturday 27th July West:

(Venue to be confirmed) Paisley Saturday 17th August

East:

(Venue to be confirmed) Dundee Saturday 28th September

Visit: www.carereview.scot/get-involved/events/ or email: participationhub@carereview.scot to find out more details of how you can get involved!

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NEWS & EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

Who Cares? Scotland

Media Club Update L

ast year Who Cares? Scotland established a Media Club for Care Experienced people. We were excited to learn what our Care Experienced members felt about how we were portrayed in TV shows, movies, books and comics.

So much has happened since then.

Together with over 60 different members we have read, watched and reviewed Harry Potter, Tracy Beaker Trilogy, My Mum Tracy Beaker, Disney’s Hercules, The Panopticon, Spider-Man, Shazam, Instant Family & recently Eleanor Oliphant.

We’ve also met with the First Minister of Scotland to talk about the importance of Care Experienced people telling their own stories & how Harry Potter is a really good example of different Care Experienced characters. Not only that, but we’ve had support from JK Rowling, the Hollywood Director of Instant Family & in October we met with Jacqueline Wilson the author of Tracy Beaker.

We have so many reviews of different characters who have been in care and we’re still looking for more. What we’ve begun doing now is looking at those reviews to understand what Care Experienced people think of these characters and work out how we make our voices heard with our views on how people show us on TV, books, the movie screen and comics.

Expert Panel We are so interested in how we can understand the way that Care

Experienced people are shown in media that we have established an expert panel.

This panel is made up entirely of Care Experienced people who have professional knowledge that they can use to make sure your voices are heard.

They are; • Rosie Canning Rosie Canning is a Doctoral Researcher at University of Southampton, she looks at how orphans and Care Experience is shown in books. She is also writing a novel based on her own experience of care.

• Kirsty Capes Kirsty Capes is a PhD candidate at Brunel University, focusing on women and Care Experienced people in fiction. She is currently writing a novel and works in marketing.

• Kenny Murray Kenny Murray works on our Public Affairs team. He has a degree in PR & Marketing and more than five years experience of working for massive brands & organisations to tell their stories.

He established the media club and recently won the National Campaigners Award for what the campaign has achieved.

If you have anything you’d like our panel to review or consider as a topic for the Media Club, email mediaclub@ whocaresscotland.org

We send out books, Now TV vouchers, DVDs and cinema tickets as different ways for people to be able to review these Care Experienced characters.

Keep an eye on our social media pages so you know what we’re reviewing next.

We’re always planning new and exciting ways of members being able to take part in Book Club and the opportunities we have to meet with writers and other important people. If you’re interested in being part of the next event, write to us with your name, age, address and an email.

W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D

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ENTERTAINMENT

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

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 6th September 2019 to be in with a chance of winning a £20 voucher of your choice.

ge Weather knowled Where in Scotland gets the most sun?

Guess the film Leonardo DiCaprio starred in a 2000 film set in Thailand. What was its name?

Finish the Lyrics Which British seaside attraction is 158 metres tall?

Guess the object

Trivia

Can you name the type of ice cream in the picture?

When does summer officially start?

YOUR NAME: AGE: PHONE: WC?S WORKER: RETURN YOUR ENTRIES TO: WHO CARES? SCOTLAND, 1st Floor, 5 Oswald Street, Glasgow G1 4QR.

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W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D

HHHHHHHH

H

H LAST ISSUES WIN NERS ARE: Leah Miller Rockey Slessor

Kylie Ralston Olivia Davidson

HHHHHHHH

HH

ENTERTAINMENT

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

… N U F R O F JUST

R E M M U S

SEARCH

Can you find the words opposite?

BBQ Friends Swimming Summer Holiday Music Festival Suncream Ice Cream Cold Drinks

W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D

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NEWS & EVENTS SO JUNIOR

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

R O I N U J O S at our younger h w t u o g in d n fi s ve t him know! le Buddy the Bear lo u o y re su e k a en up to! M members have be

Buddy’s Favourite Outdoor Activities B

uddy loves the chance to get outside, expecially when the sun is shining!

Here is a couple of activities that you could do too - have some fun in the sun!

• Go for a run • Go to the beach

• Go to the park • Do some chalk drawings • Play with water guns Make sure you’re being extra safe when you’re playing outdoors and don’t forget to drink lot’s of water, and just have FUN!!

Painted Treasure Rocks

Crafty Foxes

T

here’s a new participation group in North Lanarkshire!

Crafty Foxes is an arts and crafts group for 8-14 year olds who are from North Lanarkshire.

We meet every second Tuesday at 5pm for food and then we roll up our sleeves to create our masterpieces!

We met recently for our first group and we each designed a canvas which we felt represented each of us.

During the summer we will be heading to the beach for the day and collecting shells and sand and anything we think we could use to make a piece of summer artwork back at the group!

We’ve discussed what we want to make and create in the next few weeks; slime and papier-mâché footballs to name a few!

If you live in North Lanarkshire, we would love to welcome you to our group. Come along and see what you can create!

If you’re interested in coming along to Crafty Foxes, please call Jacqueline 07841033020

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W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D

How to create your own treasure rocks!

1. Find some smooth rocks in your garden or the park.

2. Wash and dry your rocks.

3. Get your paints and brushes ready.

4. Paint your rock a base colour and leave it to dry.

5. Decorate it however you want – spots, spirals, rainbows!

6. Do another one!

7. Once your rocks are dry, ask a trusted adult to paint your rocks with a gloss coat to protect them.

What’s HOT

NEWSSO & EVENTS JUNIOR

Speak Out Magazine | SUMMER 2019

& What’s NOT

Detective Pikachu

ma, 37 Lew is, 12 and Jem

W

e went to see Detective Pikachu in 3D. We drank tea, ice blasts and shared sweet and salty popcorn. We both really enjoyed the movie and thought it was funny. I liked when Pikachu had lightening to come out of his tail. Lewis’ favourite part of the movie was something that happens at the end, we don’t want to ruin the surprise for you, but we think you’ll like it to. 3.5 out of 5 stars

r u o l Co n i e m

W H O CA R E S? S COT LA N D

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