SpeakOut Winter 2018

SpeakOut WHO CARES? SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

WINTER 2018

Making History Care Experienced Week 2018 was a week of firsts for Who Cares?

Scotland and its members Find out more on pages 18-20

PLUS!

QUIZ PAGES, SO JUNIOR AND KEEPING UP WITH KEV

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

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’d like to take a minute to introduce myself and welcome you to the Winter 2018 issue of SpeakOut. I’m Helen Johnston and I’ve recently joined the Speak Out Editorial Team.

I am so excited to be a part of bringing you guys all the amazing content in this issue. From coverage of Care Experienced Week which has made this issue’s front cover, to Keeping up with our Kevin and Checking in with Fiona at the Care Review - this issue is packed with exciting stuff to keep you up to date and entertained this festive season.

Read about Euan’s Big cycle from Lands’ End in England to John O’Groats in Scotland and on page 22 you can see exactly how much was raised through the Kiltwalk this year.

The total blew me away! I’ve loved looking at your beautiful Christmas Card entries on pages 4-5, you talented bunch!

And if over the Christmas holiday’s you find yourself looking for something to do just head to our quiz pages, p28-29.

I hope you have as much fun reading this magazine as I’ve had making it, and on behalf of the SpeakOut Editorial Team I’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2019! Eek!

Love Helen and the SpeakOut Team x

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Inside this issue 2-3

Welcome Pages

LIFESTYLE 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-11

Celebrating You Euan’s Big Cycle Celebrating Success in Aberdeenshire The Journey of Voice in WC?S Policy Work From Both Sides

NEWS & EVENTS 12-13 Keeping Up With Kev 14

Fiona Checks In

15

1000 Voices

16-17 Regional Roundup 18-20 Care Experienced Week 2018 21

MSYP Update

22

My Crazy Kiltwalk Experience

23

Clackmannanshire Council’s Big Announcement

24

Jersey Hears You

25

Charlotte’s Indian Adventure

26

My Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship

ENTERTAINMENT 27

Care Visions in Concert with Roger Waters

28-29 Quiz Pages

SO Junior 12 2

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27

30-31 SO Junior 32

Contact Page

sue of SpeakOut

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Meet the Editorial Team

IE KATITOR)

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WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME IN PRINT?

We do!

JEMM

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DITO

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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.

REBEC

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CA

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HELEN

(ASSISTANT ED ITOR)

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

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

That membership is made up of…

5% 0-9 years old 21% 10-14 years old 44% 15-19 years old 24% 20-29 years old 4% 30-39 years old 3% 40+ years old

% % 4% 3 5

24%

21%

2207

members Male - 1045 Non-binary - 7

44%

Who Cares? Scotland Community

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.

Female - 1150

Our youngest member is 2 and our oldest member is 73.

@whocaresscot

73 2

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 | WINTER 2018

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

scotla

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

2018 WC?S Christmas Card Competition

Hav at e Chri all thes a look e wo we stma Scot re subm s card d nderful e l Card and me itted b signs t y ha m C W deci sion ompeti bers to ho Car t tio es th a wer e se nd unfo n. It wa e Chris ? tma s rtun if yo lected s atel a very u tu a s hard y no the rn to n w ann e of inni pag o t n Tha unce th es 12-1 g entry hese nk y is ye 3 Ke b ut ou t o ev ar’s win vin will ente eryon ner. e wh red! o

Christmas Crafting by Michael & Sophie 4

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NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

e l c y C g i B s ’ n a Eu

T

he fantasy of escaping the “real world” and heading off on an adventure with nothing more than a foldable tent home and whatever else I could carry on two-wheels has always appealed to me. In September this year, after several months of training and planning, I left Land’s End (the most southerly point of the Isle of Great Britain) and began a two week journey weaving my way up the country, to the tiny fishing village of John O’Groats, 1000 miles away at the very top the mainland.

I have always valued the power of escapism and swapping the world you have grown used to for something completely unfamiliar. I truly believe challenges like this can change how you view the world.

Even though my big cycle plan had started as something just for me, turning it into a fundraising opportunity for for Who Cares? Scotland just made sense. Although the moment I launched my JustGiving page this journey suddenly became about so much more than just me or the money that I could raise – it was a vehicle for sharing with everyone and anyone I knew or randomly met on the road, the story of the care experienced community and their campaign for ‘a lifetime of equality, respect and love for all’.

Through the deep valleys of Devon, the steep hills of Sutherland, the brutal hailstones of Storm Ali and the mundanity of the Midlands, I climbed 2000 ft over Shap Summit in Cumbria where a giant thorn gave me my only puncture, I nearly fell in a canal and pedalled up through Kintyre on a fractured frame but I was kept motivated by messages from the care experienced community and their allies. Wherever I struggled, I would take out my Buddy the Bear companion and be reminded of the 2000+ members who deserve everything I had and more.

Challenges and tears aside, the trip truly was incredible. I have never cycled so far, experienced so much kindness or seen as much beauty in such a short space of time. However, just over two weeks after leaving Land’s End, I joyfully flew down the final descent to the finish line at John O’Groats and collapsed into the arms of loved ones. Knackered and chuffed… and a total stinking mess.

My sincere and endless thanks to everyone who sent their support, love and generous donations: friends, colleagues, family, complete strangers and new friends from the road.

Buddy and I couldn’t have done it without you.

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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Celebrating Success in Aberdeenshire O

n Wednesday 12th September 2018, Aberdeenshire Council held their first ever Award Ceremony for Care Experienced Young people at the very grand Thainstone House Hotel in Inverurie. Over 100 people attended to celebrate the successes of some very special young people. The event was hosted by Olympic Gold Medalist, Hannah Miley and supported

by Aberdeenshire’s very own Heatstroke, local band of very talented young musicians.

The event was opened by Aberdeenshire Provost and our young people were invited to attend with friends, family, foster carers, residential workers and the person who nominated them for a particular award.

Over 60 young people were nominated by teachers, social workers and carers and a judging panel of local councillors had the very tough job of choosing three young people to attend on the evening and one overall winner.

Short video clips were made by those who nominated our finalists about why their successes should be celebrated at the event. After the clips, Hannah Miley announced the following winners.

Personal Development Award Winner - Hope Patten Davison (12) Nominations – Aiden Ritchie (14) & Bella Andersone(16) 6

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Academic Achievement (Secondary) Winner – Callum McWilliam (17) Nominees – Campbell Brodie (18) & Nicole Paton (18)

Academic Achievement (Primary) Winner – Joseph Ness (12) Nominations – Kerah McAllister (7) & Katie Gibbs (12)

Volunteering Award Winner – Alice Stuart (26) Nominations – Adam Anderson (17) & Campbell Brodie (18)

NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Feedback from the event:

“I really liked it and it was exciting but part of me wanted Kerah (one of the other nominees) to win. I really like her and she’s been doing really well.”

Winner of the Academic Achievement Award, Primary.

“Thank you for organising and running a night that young people and the people who care about and for them will remember. It was great for our young people to feel special, valued and taken care of by their corporate parents.”

Children’s Rights Officer.

“It was a privilege to host a table and I couldn’t believe how much love and pride there was in the room for the young people in our care.”

Area Manager & Table Host.

Cultural & Sports Award Winner – Bella Andersone (16) Nominations – Heidi McDonald (17) & Tara Dawson (11),

“It is important to give care experienced young people the opportunity to attend an event like this because they may not get the opportunity otherwise. It’s also very important for care experienced young people to know our corporate parents recognise us and are proud! The night was amazing...to be a winner also felt very rewarding as if felt like people recognised what I do and how passionate I am about making a difference.”

Lauren Barrie, Winner of Inspirational Young Person Award.

“This event is so important given the natural stats and pre conceptions that care experienced young people have stacked against them, and it just goes to show that to differentiate a Care experienced young person to any other is a big mistake” Foster Carer

Inspirational Young Person Winner - Lauren Barrie (17) Nominations – Campbell Brodie (18) & Fiona Webster (15)

“I was asked to be involved in the 1000 voices campaign.

I wanted to do it because I want things to change. It was hard to tell my story, but for people to understand what needs to change I had to. I always found school or activities or holidays and even having friends difficult.

Being in care doesn’t mean I don’t want to be like everybody else, I do! I have done lots of presentations for school year groups and parents and teachers and social workers and cadets. I went to Edinburgh and Glasgow to meet Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney, I even spoke on a massive stage in front of hundreds of people, which was terrifying!

Being nominated for the award was great even though I was surprised. We were all treated as though we were really special. There was a piper to welcome us and a photographer. Everybody was nice and I met lots of new people. The meal was pretty cool too, little burgers and mini macaroni pies. I will never forget meeting Hannah Miley, she was so nice and not at all what I expected.”

Young Person Nominated for Volunteering Award “Hope is such a wonderful young person, who managed to cope with the adversity of loss and bereavement with pride and dignity, not only did the award ceremony acknowledge this, it gave the rest of our foster family and all the team surrounding a sense of pride and a pat on the back...like a big corporate cuddle!”

Foster carer for winner of Personal Development Award

Making a Difference Award Winner – YPOC Group (Lauren Barrie (17), Kari Duggan (16), Natasha Foster(20), Shane Hepburn (20), Jasmine Morrison (16), Aurin shand (15), Jenna Warrander (16), Fiona Webster (15), Sarah Wood (16), Melissa Whyte) Nominations – Lauren Barrie (17) & Fiona Webster (15)

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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

The Journey of Voice in WC?S Policy Work Changing Scotland’s Justice System for Care Experienced People

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ur Policy work is all about connecting Care Experienced voices with powerful people in Scottish Government, Parliament and other influential public bodies across Scotland. This is to make sure that they listen to what you have to say on issues that are important to you and that you tell them what you want to change.

Follow us on this journey, to find out how powerful Care Experienced voices are, in making change on a national level.

Care Experience and Criminalisation Who Cares? Scotland and our members have been talking about how being in care can mean you are more likely to encounter the Police, more likely to get charged and more likely

to end up with a criminal record. This can have a lifelong impact, because a criminal record never goes away.

No care experienced person should be more likely to become criminalised, just because they have been in care – this is something we have been working together to change to achieve a lifetime of equality!

1 - Voices in 2014-2015 87 voices Four years ago, 87 Care Experienced people gave their views on the Children and Young People Act, 2014. This was the first time our members influenced a piece of Scots law.

They covered loads of different issues about care and one of those was about their experiences with Police. This was also the first time these experiences had been written down and sent directly to Scottish Government.

‘There’s definitely more involvement with the Police when you’re in care’ ‘I think young people end up with more charges if they live in a Children’s Unit. Picking up charges for stuff like vandalism, absconding, breach of the peace, is just a by- product of unit life.’

2 – Voices in 2016 32 voices A year or so later, the Government asked for people’s opinions on raising the ‘age of criminal responsibility’ (the age at which you’re held responsible for a crime) to 12 years old.

Currently in Scotland, you can be arrested from 8 years old. This consultation asked not only whether we should raise the age limit, but also about what powers the police should have and how they should treat young people.

32 Care Experienced people voiced their opinions and spoke about how harmful behaviour towards the self or others is most often a reaction to harm that a child or young person has experienced. They shared that police are often way too involved in care experienced people’s

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lives and that they agreed the age should be higher than 8 years old.

They spoke out about wanting young people in care to get the help they needed, not a criminal record.

‘People noticed my behaviour, but not my trauma’ ‘When you are younger you think it’s just fun and games.

You don’t actually think it through. Then there is one year of your life when you open your eyes and see that you have to take responsibility’ ‘The police do get phoned when you are in a unit. Like if you were at home they wouldn’t phone the police’

NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS

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6 – Where next?

The Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill is not yet a Law! After Lynzy gave evidence to Scottish Parliament, there was a big debate about the ACR Bill on November 13th and Care Experienced people were highlighted throughout. This shows the impact of all the voices who have spoken about issues of care and the justice system for the past four years.

However, there’s still lots to do before we can sit back and relax, as the Bill is not yet a full law!! Scottish Government are now looking at how this new law would actually work. We will make sure Care Experienced people are involved in this, so that the law makes sure Scotland stops criminalising the behaviour of young people and instead gives them the help they need.

5 - September 2018, Voice in Scottish Parliament 1 voice to represent the voices so far!

3 – Voices in Early 2018 22 voices In 2018, Scottish Government decided to use it’s power to try raising the age of criminal responsibility.

Before a law is made, it is called a ‘Bill’. The Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill was introduced into Scottish Parliament on 14th March 2018.

The people working on the Bill wanted to hear more from Care Experienced people. This time 22 Care Experienced people across Scotland got involved and once again spoke about the need for things to change in the justice system for young people in care.

The care experienced people involved said they did not fully agree that even at age 12 a person is old enough to be arrested and charged with a crime: “If someone is acting out, they need help, they are communicating something.”

“At 12 you don’t know it’s going to stick with you for the rest of your life.”

Lynzy Hanvidge, WC?S Policy Ambassador, outside Scottish Parliament Lynzy then went to Scottish Parliament to talk to the Equalities and Human Rights committee about how Care Experienced people can become criminalised. She was there to speak about her own experience but also to represent the voices of our members who had contributed on the journey so far.

“On that day I shared my own story about being taken into care, something I do not usually do. I was 13 and taken to a police station while my brother and sister where taken to a children’s home. It feels surreal that I was in Parliament talking about my life, but I am proud that I had the courage to do so. I felt supported, empowered and knew my views were going be listened to. I believe that by sharing my own story I opened the committee’s eyes to what It feels like to be in that situation, a scared and vulnerable child not an adult that understands the ways of the world.”

4 – Voices in Summer of 2018 30 voices

By August 2018, the ACR Bill team had more questions for Care Experienced people about some specific areas the new law might change for young people.

The Care Council met with a person from Scottish Government working on the ACR Bill. They took part in a workshop and voiced their opinions about what the new law could change for Care Experienced people they represented.

Some of the issues they looked at included: whether a police station could be used as a ‘place of safety’ for young people who are involved with seriously harmful behaviour, what an investigative interview could be like and how victims of harmful behaviour by a child under the age of criminal responsibility might be helped.

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NEWS & EVENTS LIFESTYLE

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

From both sides: Stephen Sloan

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s a child, I recall attending children’s hearings and sitting in front of the panel thinking “these people have no clue what it’s like”. Since leaving care, I’ve maintained an interest in becoming a panel member myself, believing that on account of being care experienced and of having been “in their shoes”, I would hopefully be able to relate more to young people during the process. A year ago, when I found myself with a little more free time, I attended a Children’s Hearings Scotland information session in Paisley and signed up!

I first entered the care system at three years old and was placed in a number of temporary foster placements (some with and without my sister) before eventually moving into the care of my maternal grandmother. My parents both misused alcohol and as a result, they were no longer capable of providing care and protection to me and my sister. I don’t recall much about those early years, however, my sister later told me that it wasn’t a great experience, especially when we were separated.

I do however remember our first social worker very clearly, she managed our case for a number of years before we were permanently adopted by my grandmother. The involvement of the local authority in those days was quite limited, checking in from time to time and helping provide some financial assistance at Christmas or at the start of the school year.

When we were adopted by my grandmother, that was the end of my involvement with the local authority, until the age of 11 or 12 when I started missing school and getting into trouble. This became a pattern and I was in and out of police custody and then hearings every other month. I was headed down a really bad path, however, there was no support within the local community for young people and as the children in my area had grown up witnessing criminality and alcohol/substance misuse, it felt like it was the only option available to me at the time. By this stage my Gran was no longer capable of dealing with my acting out and decided to move us to another area. However, this was still within relatively close proximity to my old area and I fell back in with old friends and the cycle continued into my mid-teens.

Turning point

I

am a firm believer that there is a turning point that everyone can look back on and say, that was the day things changed.

Unfortunately, my wakeup call was the death of my sister.

Her life experiences, surroundings and upbringing had led her down a path that ultimately resulted in her young death. It was at that point that I knew I had to change and with the help of my family, friends, my befriender and my partner, I was able to turn my life around.

My befriender was instrumental and at 16 years old, she marched me up to a recruitment office and helped me secure a position in a Youth Training Scheme (YTS), this eventually resulted in a full-time position. Since then, I’ve gone on to have a really rewarding career in financial crime assurance. Sometimes, having the support and encouragement of someone who believes in you can make all the difference.

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NEWSLIFESTYLE & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Children’s Hearings as a young person and as a panel member My experience as a panel member

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ecoming a CHS panel member has been a rewarding, but demanding experience. The time commitment is quite extraordinary and significant preparation is required for every single case, normally with a mountain of paperwork to review beforehand. There is an intensive training course which needs to be completed before you can become a panel member and then there are additional training nights and other commitments throughout the year.

I’ve already had the pleasure of sitting on a panel which decided to end a child’s supervision order. The young person had turned their life around for the better and no longer required the involvement of the local authority or supporting services. However, for every positive outcome, there are a number of cases which don’t have the desired outcome and being involved in some of

the more complex cases can become emotionally overwhelming. I always want to reach the best outcome for every child in every case that I hear. Some cases are really difficult to digest, however knowing that I am making a decision in their best interest gets me through the harder parts of the process.

I had been slightly naive to the full remit of hearing system and thought that I would mostly be dealing with young people who had been involved with the police or who otherwise were acting out destructively.

However, such cases are only a small minority, with most situations relating to young people at risk due to their family/home environment.

Hearing young people’s voices

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have been surprised to see the low number of children and young people present at their own hearings. Around 80% of the cases that I have sat on didn’t have the child or young person present, though I understand that the numbers differ quite significantly across the various local authorities.

You often see advocacy workers attend on behalf of the children. In some scenarios it isn’t appropriate to have the children present due to the topics that will be discussed, however, it is difficult to be completely confident that a child’s views are being represented if they are not present. In my

What’s Next

opinion and where practical, a child should always be present at hearings, even for the first 5 or 10 minutes in order to have a chance to speak, present their views and voice their desired outcome.

Having been part of the hearing and care system as a child, I do feel as though it allows me to better understand the views of the child and how they are feeling. I can often relate to the challenges they face, and this helps me reach the decisions in their best interests.

I am looking forward to becoming involved in the great work being carried out by WC?S and meeting other members of the organisation, whilst continuing to work with the Children’s Hearing System.

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NEWS & EVENTS

Keepin g up with

Kev d Care Experience Week 2018

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f you were already familiar with National Care Leavers’ Week, which also takes place at the end of October, you may have wondered why we chose to mark the occasion with a different name. The reason is simple. We know that our members don’t leave their Care Experience behind them just because they leave formal care. Rather, their Care Experience represents a fundamental part of who they are – and we wanted to celebrate that. So National Care Experienced Week is a week of activity designed to showcase and celebrate the talent, abilities and capability of ALL Care Experienced people across Scotland.

Over the course of the week events took place in communities, towns and cities, with a grand finale weekend where we marched for love and came together at our annual Time to Shine Festival.

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Rally for Love

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f you’re Care Experienced then you will know that people sometimes don’t understand our lives, this lack of understanding can make people behave in strange ways, we know this from experience!

A few years ago, around 300 people came out to protest about the build of a children’s house in their local area, why? Because they didn’t understand. Since then we have been waiting for the opportunity to tell Scotland that we deserve a lifetime of Equality, Respect and Love.

On the 26th of October 2018 history was made!

Hundreds of our members, Care Experienced people, corporate parents, friends and family walked in our first ever Rally for Love, claiming our space and sending out a clear message that we don’t want a care system, we want a care experience that has love at the centre of it, with people who will be by our side for a lifetime.

The day was a huge success, gaining mass media attention. We intend to build on this momentum and are already planning our next Rally so please come and march with us in 2019.

Global Gathering

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ith a NASA Space Recruit, The New Zealand Prime Minister, a world exploring author, an Australian academic, our First Minister and friends from all five nations in the UK and Republic of Ireland, we made history, again, as we held the first ever Global Gathering of Care Experienced People. Not bad to make history twice in the one week!

The Gathering was an event that brought our community together and showed that Care Experienced people can achieve their dreams. We heard from so many inspirational speakers who talked about the importance of being loved and afforded the opportunity to follow your dreams.

Time to Shine

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ime To shine, our fantastic celebratory event brought members from across Scotland and beyond together to party! I would like to say a big massive thank you to our members Suman Asif and Kaley Ferguson who helped plan and bring this year’s festival to life!

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NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Access to Care Records

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ince I can remember people have spoken to us about the importance of knowing their care journey. Too often we leave care without fully understanding our journey, why decisions were made and where we stood in all of it.

Our Alumni Members have been exploring the need to change this by increasing knowledge and understanding about how we can access our care records. The process can be daunting, cost money and isn’t consistent across Scotland.

Moving forward the Alumni will be driving a campaign to change this. From personal experience, I know that accessing records can be challenging, emotionally and physically, so please if this is something you want to find out more about, email membership@ whocaresscotland.org

Book Club

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hilst some of us were dancing, eating burgers and having our very own C in the Park at the Festival, a small group of members were over in Edinburgh meeting with a very famous author. As you may know, we have a Book Club which looks at books with characters who are Care Experienced. They let us know what they think about how the character is shown and whether it’s anything like their lives.

One of the things we know is that many of our members were upset when the new Tracy Beaker was announced, as it showed Tracy struggling to be successful in her adult life. Some of our Book Club Members took that challenge directly to Jacqueline Wilson, the author of Tracy Beaker. She listened, she understood and has promised she’ll continue speaking to us when writing her next book which she says will be published in Care Experienced Week 2019! She also told us that she’ll be using the names of the members who came to speak to her, in her next book!

Christmas Card Competition Winner

Life Long Opportunities

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ur youngest member is 4 years old and our older members are in their 70s. We have a dynamic and powerful membership of people of all ages and stages. Our members have told us that too many opportunities only extend up to the age of 26.

We are working hard to change that by developing a number of corporate partnerships and opportunities to make sure that our membership offer caters to all. These opportunities will include Care Experienced people’s homes being renovated for free (look out for a big announcement on this in the New Year!), another’s focus is on education as we are working hard with SQA to ensure that no Care Experienced members have to pay for any replacement exam certificates.

These certificates can be needed for college or university applications, job opportunities or you might just want to display them with pride on your bedroom wall.

We’re also making sure that we work with partners who can provide you with employment opportunities that match your skillset and support you to work towards your own dreams. Beyond this we know that many other offers and opportunities must be lifelong, I have made this a priority and would welcome suggestions.

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t is my great pleasure to announce that the winner of this year’s Christmas Card competition is 14-year-old Owen Hughes. Congratulations and thank you Owen for designing such a beautiful Christmas card that totally captures the spirit of, not only Christmas, but Who Cares? Scotland as well!

I would like to finish by wishing you all a very happy Christmas. May it be filled with Equality, Respect and Love!

And in the words of Ishbel, one of the Global Gathering speakers who has cycled around the world, “follow your dreams, they have the answer”. See you in 2019!

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Fiona Checks In Hello,

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hope you are doing well and enjoying this edition of Speak Out. It has been a very busy time for the Care Review, especially as there were so many fun events as part of Care Experienced week, which was a real highlight of the autumn.

What a fantastic celebration and great opportunity for everyone to share their experiences of care and their aspirations for the future.

The Global Care Family gathering had a phenomenal line-up of speakers, their life stories and reflections were such an inspiration. If you weren’t there and wish that you had been, you can watch the day on YouTube.

It was lovely being part of the Love Rally and great to be taking part in a beautiful day of marching for love. What a brilliant reaction the Love Rally received both on the streets of Glasgow and on TV! Every day, I have conversations about love – it is such a fundamental part of how we care for each other. And because it is so important, there is group of people talking about love and what that means for infants, children and young people in care. Rosie Moore and Joanna McCreadie will be

hoping to hear more about your thoughts and views on this in the near future.

The Care Review reached an important milestone in October when Journey group members came together for an ignition event. And I’m so immensely grateful to all the people who are bringing ideas, energy, experience and passion to this Review.

There’s more information on the Care Review website about the different groups and soon each will have their own page so you can keep up with the progress they are making in their deep dives into a wide range of issues relating to the experience of care.

Over 1300 children, young people and adults with care experience have shared their voice with the Care Review and I am deeply grateful to every single one.

I’m also really aware that talking about personal experiences and sharing your voice and life stories are not easy things to do and in fact for some people can be really difficult.

My promise is that taking part in the Care Review will always be at a pace and in a way that suits you and I continue to be committed to making sure that there are lots of options - as well as support, if and when it is needed.

Please keep in touch and follow the Care Review on:https://www.carereview.scot/review-news/ https://twitter.com/TheCareReview https://www.instagram.com/carereviewscot/ https://www.facebook.com/IndependentCareReview/ -review/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-care 14

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That’s why the Care Review is working with an organisation called Health in Mind to provide a dedicated wellbeing service to anyone who is telling their story and either doesn’t have - or doesn’t want to use - support through an organisation, network and/or group they are involved in. More information can be found on the ‘Get Involved’ page of the Review website.

There will be many more opportunities for you to get involved with the Care Review in the year ahead. Paul Sullivan, the new participation manager, and the 1000 Voices team are champing at the bit to get out, meet people and hear what they have to say. More about that across the page.

I would like to wish you a happy and healthy festive time and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Fiona

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

INTRODUCING THE CARE REVIEW PARTICIPATION HUB! T

he Hub is the central point for all engagement with the Care Review during the Journey stage. It’s not actually a physical space. Instead, it’s made up of lots of different options for people to share their voice and get involved. All these options will

What is the Hub?

mean that lots of different people will be supported to speak to the Care Review. It doesn’t matter your age, placement type, or anything else!

The work to be done during the Journey is HUGE, focusing on lots of areas. What’s really exciting is the

From the Care Review: Paul Sullivan & Laura Beveridge

From the 1000 Voices:

Carly Edgar, Prajapa Seneviratne, Heather Donaldson , Erin Hastings, Kieran Platts, Kari-Ann Johnston and Callum Holt

T

hey are very passionate about making sure that the Care Review is not only hearing new voices but is having meaningful ongoing conversations.

Paul and Laura will also make sure that the Care Review is listening to the paid and unpaid workforce and families.

T

his creative bunch have been doing engagement with care experienced children and young people since last summer and are so excited to be continuing! The team will work alongside organisations and groups as well as individuals with care experience, ensuring that the Care Review really listens to what is important, that everyone is kept safe a most importantly has fun!

YOU? As a co-design Co ns

ultant:

T

here are new opportunities for people with experience of care to get involved with this team, working alongside everyone above to help design, deliver and evaluate every aspect of participation. Please stay tuned to hear how to apply for these roles and keep an eye on the www. carereview.scot website and our social media.

deep conversation needed to achieve transformational change. It will be the job of the Hub to make sure all engagement activity feeds directly back to the 10 Journey work groups and it will be carried out by this amazing bunch…

What are the ways to get involved?

Are you interested in making sure the Care Review hears what you have to say?

There are lots of ways for you to get involved - including: • 1:1 with someone you have a relationship with.

• Alongside any groups you take part in.

• Themed workshops on issues that are important to you e.g. mental health, housing etc.

• Online, so you can contribute from your own space.

• Tailored approaches for specific communities e.g. unaccompanied children and young people; people with disabilities; infants; and many others.

•

•

Or, if you are already involved in some participation work that you think the Review should know about, please let us know and we can come to you.

Last but not least… the Care Review is interested to hear from you if you are a poet, or a writer, or a rapper, or an illustrator, or have any other creative skills that can help spread work of the Care Review. Does this sound like you? If so, please get in touch.

You will find all the participation methods at www.carereview.scot soon!

Keep an eye on the Care Review and 1000 Voices social media, or you can email participationhub@carereview.scot.

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

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Aberdeen C ity Groups

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Shetland

NEWS & EVENTS Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

•

upwards) Champions Board: (14 years meet once a month-Barrhead rs) meet • Mini-champs: (8-13 yea arns.

Me fortnightly – Newton y.

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East Renfrewshire Groups

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SL Foster Group: For young people in foster care, kinship care and looked after at home.

• SL Care Leavers: For young people transitioning from care.

For more info contac t Ewen K or Lynne M.

South Lanarkshire Groups •

d: Young people Champions Boar changing care.

Jordan. r more info, call food & friends.

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ung • FYI (Fun Yo n, Individuals): Fu s. food & friend ntact For more info co . ke Leah or Broo

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

South Ayrshire Cham pions Board: Young people changing care.

For more info contac t Denise or 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: 2 separate groups for ages 6-11 and 12-16 on Tuesday’s 5-7.

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Proud2Care: Fu n, food and friends.

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ple changing care.

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Renfrewshire Groups

Kibble Group: Fun, food & friends.

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East Dunbartonshire

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

NEWS & EVENTS

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

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NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

The Care Cup O

n Saturday 20th October we kicked off Care Experienced Week 2018 with an all girls 7 aside football match, supported by our official partner, Scottish Women’s Football.

The match took place at Toryglen Regional Football Centre and saw teams made up of WC?S members, volunteers, WC?S staff, carers and other professionals from all over Scotland come together under the leadership of North East Team Manager, Nicki ‘Fergie’ Matthew and South West Team Manager, Donna ‘Pep’ Martin, and play for the much sought after Care Cup. The day started with a warm up and coaching session lead out by the Celtic Ladies head coach, Eddie Wolecki 18

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

Black, and the Motherwell Ladies head coach, Donald Jennow. These experienced coaches put our teams through their paces and taught them some special moves to use in the big game.

At 12pm the game began. Both teams played with heart and soul, giving everything they had but after an exhilarating 90 minutes, Donna Martin’s team came out on top with a fairly significant lead. Despite there only being one winning team, every single player who took part deserves a massive round applause for their efforts. A special mention goes out to Karen Johnston and Charlotte Taylor for their impressive

sports’wo’manship.

One team may have walked away with the Care Cup, but all players received hospitality match tickets to the Scottish Woman’s Cup Final at Firhill Stadium in Glasgow. Thanks to Scottish Women’s Football for helping us kick off Care Experienced Week 2018 with a bang.

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

The Big Care Experienced Helen John ston Weekend 2018 T

he first word that pops into my head when I think about Care experienced weekend is WOW! Each and every event was incredible, and I felt blessed to be part of such a landmark occasion.

The weekend of the 26th – 28th of October was the grand finale of Care Experienced week. On the Friday I attended the first ever Rally for Love where Who Cares? Scotland and hundreds of our members and supporters took part in a march for love. We walked right through the centre of Glasgow from St Enoch Square up to Buchanan Galleries and never has our presence been felt so strongly. Looking down the line of people marching behind us was so overwhelming, I still can’t believe how many people turned up to support us.

Once we got to the top of Buchanan Street we heard from some amazing speakers. From our Director of Membership, Kevin Browne-MacLeod, demanding love to our very own Jemma Kerr, who spoke about her own experience and identity. The banners and flags created for the event were fantastic and were an amazing reflection of our members creativity.

I felt so proud to see so many care experienced people hold their banners up with pride. The message of the event was so clear and I’m glad I was able to help communicate it to the people of Glasgow – that if you are care experienced, no matter where you grew up, whether that be kinship, foster, residential, at home, in secure or with an adoptive family we all DESERVE to be loved!

On the Saturday I attended the Global Care Gathering, also a first of its kind. The day was filled with some incredible care experienced speakers from all around the globe who came

to share their stories with us. The event was broadcast across the world and I cannot tell you how powerful each and every one of the speakers were. My sisters and I participated in a workshop at lunch time about owning our identity’s and being proud of who we were. It was amazing to see my sisters engage in their care experience for the first time and reflect on how far they’ve come. The Gathering was driven by our very own Callum Lynch who earlier this year called for a global conversation on care, he asked that there be a way to bring our care experienced family together into one room and ultimately one discussion!

It was heartwarming to see so many people, all with the same passion and drive for change.

On Sunday the 28th we attended the final event of Care Experienced Week 2018 – the Time to Shine Festival, held at SWG3 in Glasgow.

The theme for this year was ‘music festival’, so we dug out our outfits from the summer and a whole lot of glitter! Karen, my youngest sister, took great pleasure in covering our other sister, Sharon, and I in glittery hair spray, covering my living room furniture in green and purple in the process (which I’ve still not got fully out!). Arriving at the National Office to get the bus to the venue we were met by some of our 5 Nations, 1 Voice Family including some new faces, all rocking their brightly coloured festival outfits. When we arrived at Time to Shine, we were embraced by an atmosphere so incredible that it’s

almost indescribable.

From amazing singers and DJs performing on the main stage, to the Glittered Oot Your Nut Tent, to the bungee run and food vans in the yard, the event could not have felt more festival like if it tried.

The day went by in a sparkly blur of dancing and hugs. It was so good to catch up with members of our care experienced family who I hadn’t seen in ages and hear all their news. I even managed to get 5 minutes of peace and quiet in The Healing Tent where I had a hand massage using lovely smelling Lush products that they had donated to us. The atmosphere created was phenomenal and it felt like a massive family coming together.

Each year Time to Shine has seemed to have been better and better and I cannot wait till next year!

The weekend was a whirlwind!

And one I won’t ever forget as it will forever hold some of the best memories I have with my sisters.

Through powerful speeches, shared reflections, crazy dancing, old faces and new, the weekend proved to me how amazing it is to be part of this global Care Experienced Family and how comfortable I feel within it. To those of you who took part in this year’ Care Experienced Week, thank you for making it as amazing as it was, and to those of you who aren’t quite sure of your place in this Family yet, I hope that changes soon and I look forward to seeing you during Care Experienced Week 2019.

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19

NEWS & EVENTS

e v o L

LET’S TALK ABOUT C

are Experienced Week was an opportunity to show people who have been in care that we see them, that we’re on their side and that they deserve to be loved. I celebrated Care Experienced Week because I grew up in care and sometimes, it didn’t feel like anyone was doing that for me. I went into care at a young age because my family wasn’t able to look after me. I’ve had to work hard to understand that and to come to terms with what that means for my future.

Being brought up in care in Shetland was really different compared to growing up in care on the mainland. Being in a small community means everyone knows who is in care and their family history. I think that’s what led to me being judged for being in care. People have asked me what I did and where I went wrong in life. They’ve asked me those questions because they already have assumptions of what being in care means. I’ve also spent time defending Care Experienced people on social media. Across Scotland, communities protest against children’s homes being built in their area. People share articles online, where they talk about troubled children and worry about their house prices falling, or the area becoming less secure. I wish they cared about how hurtful those words can be. We’re just children desperately trying to be loved and have a childhood.

Care Experienced people and our supporters are adding more to the ongoing conversation about love. It’s a powerful word, that can mean something different to everyone, and leads to everyone giving their own description of what it feels like. I’m taking a risk and putting myself in that conversation. I’m ready to

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

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Lauren Young, 19

start talking about love because at some point, I want to live in this world knowing what love means to me.

I spent time with a colleague recently and I heard him on the phone saying “Good night, love you” to his children.

I asked him how often he tells them he loves them. “Every day”, he replied. I could hear that he meant it every time he said it too. This blew me away.

I don’t have memories of being told I was loved when I was a child. I also don’t have an understanding of what it must be like to be told I’m loved by an adult every day. I’m not unlovable. No one is. I had this problem because I had paid staff and they weren’t allowed to say they loved me.

I didn’t experience love because it wasn’t part of the deal growing up in care. I didn’t have parents, I had staff. I had a living room but there was an office in the house too. I know now that love in that kind of setting is too risky, too real. If people loved me, properly loved me, they would never have been able to force me into a flat when I was 18. But that’s what happened. For the past few months, I’ve been lonely, isolated, full of self-doubt and frustrated. Those aren’t feelings related to love.

Care Experienced Week was all about celebrating what Care Experienced people have offered the world. We’re capable, we’ve got potential and we’re worthy of more. I want everyone in Scotland to be inspired by Care Experienced people, just like I am. Let’s make care great, give young people like me their childhood back and create a lifetime of love.

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

SCOTTISH YOUTH PARLIAMENT UPDATE Helen Johnston and Ryan McShane Did you know that Who Cares? Scotland members aged 12-25 are represented by two Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs)? This means that the views of our membership are heard in the biggest elected representative voice of young people in Scotland! Here’s an update from your MSYPs Helen and Ryan!

SYP67: In October, Ryan attended a meeting (called a Sitting) in Kilmarnock which lasted a whole weekend! Before a sitting, MSYPs can put forward proposals for Members’ Motions.

These proposed motions are communicated to the Youth Parliament, and then MSYPs ask the young people in their area or organisation what they think about the topic. At the Sitting there is a debate, and then the Youth Parliament votes on whether they want the motion to become policy.

Helen and Ryan put forward two Motions on behalf of Who Cares?

Scotland members at SYP67. The first one was that care experienced children and young people should grow up in an atmosphere of love, equality and respect. The second was that care experienced people should have access to suitable, affordable housing. Both were passed, which means that the issues facing care experienced people are being heard by the Scottish Youth Parliament – and they agree that things have to be done to improve the lives of this group.

Ryan: “I attended the most recent Scottish Youth Parliament Sitting

in Kilmarnock where I was able to pass 2 motions on behalf of the Who Cares? Scotland membership.

I also convene a committee at the Youth Parliament so I was able to co-design our new national Campaign ‘All Aboard’ which is centred around public transport.

The campaign has 3 main themes: Accessibility, reducing fares and bus standards. I also marched in the Love Rally around Glasgow where I was joined by 15 other MSYPs who showed their support towards one of our recent passed motions; ‘making love a Right’.”

Helen: “In the last month or so I’ve been quite busy, from joining the Love working group with the Care Review to ensure that all your voices are part of the discussion on love in the care system and attending its launch event.

SYP have launched its new national campaign on Scotland’s Travel and we are looking to hear your views. For more

information feel free to get in contact with us or check out the Who Cares? Scotland Facebook page.”

March 2019 Helen and Ryan’s two-year term as MSYPs will come to an end in March 2019 (boooo!), when our membership (YOU!) will be asked to vote for your MSYPs for the next two years (wooooo!)

Will Helen and Ryan stand again?

Or will you choose new candidates?

Keep an eye out in the next edition of SpeakOut for updates!

A Final Word from your MSYPs…

Thanks for all your support over the last two years, WC?S Members! Remember that we represent YOU, so we would love to hear from you! If you have any questions, suggestions or want to talk about anything feel free to get in touch. You can contact us on twitter, by email or on facebook.

Helen Johnston @Helen_MSYP Helen.Johnston.MSYP@sypmail.org.uk Ryan Mcshane @Ryanmcshanemsyp Ryan.McShane.MSYP@sypmail.org.uk

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NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

My Crazy Experience Dear Who Cares? Scotland Members,

I

am Scot Millar and I am an Advocacy and Participation Worker. More than that I am a great admirer of Care Experienced People, who inspire me everyday in so many ways. My work is a joy and a pleasure, I am privileged to be able to play a small part in the lives of so many wonderful people that it seemed only fair that I should mark this somehow.

When the opportunity to walk in the Kiltwalk came up I didn’t immediately jump at the chance because I thought this is just another fundraiser.

However, with a bit of time to consider this I realised that the Kiltwalk is so much more than that. Everyone can get involved with the Kiltwalk, everyone can give it a go and more

importantly we can do it together.

It is fun, challenging, sociable and representative of our individual and collective journey in so many ways.

This year I set myself the aim of completing all 4 Kiltwalks, and when I set myself this challenges it was my intention to only walk and have fun. No I did have fun, possibly too much fun. I walked, jogged, RAN and danced my way around the four walks.

I made friends, I raised money, I hurt, I laughed, I took my dog and I learned that I am so privileged to walk for and alongside Care Experienced People who inspire and amaze me every day.

18 months ago I applied to become an advocacy and participation worker having previously served as a children’s panel member. I thought I had a good knowledge of my role. I was wrong. Everyday since I started I have been amazed, humbled, taught

and loved by my Care Experienced Friends. My learning has been so rich and rewarding to me personally.

Therefore when given the chance to Walk around Scotland’s 4 largest cities and proudly wear my kilt and a Who Cares? Scotland t-shirt to raise aware and money for what we do – I could only say YES! Thank you to all of those who sponsored me, chatted to me, laughed with me, ran with me, hugged me, smiled at me, gave me water, gave me food, kept me going, drove me, gave me a bed, sent me good luck messaged and mostly thank you to my Care Experienced Friends for letting me share this little bit of mine and your journey together.

Forever equal, respectful and loving – Scot (with one t) Millar k part?

How many too How many to

ok part?

664

walkers How much money raised?

Glasgow £62,398.90

Edinburgh £17,159.67

Dundee £7,758.80

Total = £90,278.37 22

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Aberdeen £2,961

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Clackmannanshire Council’s Big Announcement O

n August 27th Clackmannanshire council held a Corporate Parenting event. Around 100 people were in attendance. The Head of Social Services facilitated the event. Oor Clacks Voices were also there and joined in with the table discussions. One of our young people talked about her care journey so far and my colleague, Shumela, also spoke about her journey. The emotion in the room was palpable.

One of the attendees, from HR, approached me afterwards, with tears in his eyes. He stated that he and his family lived in their own “wee safe bubble”, and he had no idea about the difficult lives our young people live. This was a common discussion throughout the day. Many of the attendees had no idea that they were Corporate Parents. They all knew by the end of the event.

Oor Clacks Voices had 17 individual pledges that they wanted the attendees to sign up to. Some were easy - look at me not my label. Some asked them to live up to their Corporate Parenting responsibilities.

Almost half of the attendees pledged something with some of them signing up to several.

At the event it was announced that as of April next year, no care experienced young person in Clackmannanshire will have to go down the homeless route to get their own tenancy. It has been written into the Corporate Parenting Strategy which evolved from discussions the Head of Social Services had with Oor Clacks Voices. I am very proud that “oor weans” have achieved something so momentous in such a short period of time.

Clackmannanshire Council have been very supportive of Oor Clacks Voices, and who knows what we will achieve next by working together.

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Jersey NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Hears You J

ersey is a beautiful island surrounded by twinkling sea, with grand sweeping beaches, and enclosed beaches surrounded by cliffs. It is part of the British Isles; 14 miles from France and 85 miles from the South of England. It has it’s own language – Jerriais – though it is not widely spoken. It has it’s own cows – the beautiful, delicate cousin of the Highland cow I reckon! Jersey even has it’s own donut – the Jersey Wonder!

I moved here 18 months ago from Dunbar, East Lothian. I love Dunbar – if you’ve not been you should try the flume at the swimming pool, or watch the fishermen feed the seals that come up by their boats at the harbour!

Not long before I moved to Jersey, I watched a talk by Laura Beveridge.

Some of you might have seen it. It was about how she had ‘owned’ being in care, after some time being ashamed.

It was about how people in care face stigma, are labelled, and all too often aren’t loved. It was a rallying cry to action.

I watched it quietly and it left a deep impression. I was in care as a teenager of care.

However, I was

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Carly Glover, Alumni Member

embarrassed and ashamed about it.

When I told stories about my life, I glossed over those years. After hearing Laura’s talk, I joined the Who Cares? alumni group. I met people who had similar struggles and feelings to me.

We were all really different but there was a special connection. I started to see my ‘story’, and the qualities I had developed because of it, as a strength.

But then I moved to Jersey. I was sad to leave that behind…or so I thought.

Last year Jersey had a Care Inquiry – to find out about abuses which had happened to people in care. They asked the Inquiry to find out what happened, where it happened and what to do to stop it happening again. One of the Inquiry’s recommendations was ‘to give children and young people a voice’.

I saw that Jersey could learn from, and with, Scotland about how to do this. Pretty much before I knew where the supermarket was, I was trying to figure out how I could talk to the Chief Minister of Jersey and encourage him to visit Scotland and learn about transforming care!

I met some charity people, a Methodist Minister, the Director of Children’s Policy and, somehow, we found ourselves in the Chief Minister’s office asking if he would visit Scotland.

He said yes! Other senior people, charities and young adults with experience of care were keen to come too.

Our visit was in March this year and the group heard from Scottish Government, Who Cares? Scotland, the Children’s Commissioner, Life Changes Trust, Children’s Hearings Scotland and the Care Review. In the evening, some friends and I put on a dinner and shared some of our experiences of care through song, poetry and talks.

The Jersey group found the visit ‘inspirational’ and ‘transformational’ and understood that ‘it is by listening to people with lived experience of care that you change course’.

“I was inspired about the commitment from Scotland to the young people and they showed me that anything is possible if you are determined. Also when we went to Scotland on both occasions it felt like there was a really warm welcome and a happy vibe and that was really nice.”

Jay Hepburn, 18 We are now working as a group, called Jersey Cares, to understand how best to amplify the voice of people with experience of care, and enable the community and government to be the best corporate parents.

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Charlotte’s Indian Adventure rmitage Charlotte A

S

itting on a massive posh Emirates plane - the kind with in flight WIFI, fancy entertainment systems and free blankets for all passengers - I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the fact that I, a Care Experienced person who was frequently told I wouldn’t amount to anything, was on my way to take part in a world-renowned leadership programme in India! I had to pinch myself numerous times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Rewind three weeks prior to this, (yes really, I only had 3 weeks to prepare) it was just a typical day at work, emails up to my eyeballs and generally feeling quite stressed. East Lothian Champions Board Ambassador and my Corporate Parent, Jim Lamond aka the Finance Guy, sent us an email telling us about a life changing opportunity that he wanted to nominate a Care Experienced person for. The opportunity to take part in the WYSE International Leadership Programme – a programme designed

for emerging world leaders, who have a passion for making the world a better, more equal place.

Without properly reading it, I jumped at the chance to put my name forward.

I became immediately excited at the thought of taking part, of traveling on my own and sharing our movement globally. The weeks flew past and after some serious planning and the most stressful morning of my life, I was on the plane. It wasn’t a dream, it was really happening - I was going to India!

I travelled for a total of 14 hours but when I arrived, I was raring to go. The second I set foot outside Chennai Airport, reality kicked in and I felt extremely out of my depth.

Never in my life have seen so many people, scooters and cars. Suddenly I was alone, in a country with so many people, with what felt like a neon flashing sign above my head screaming ‘first time in India’. But then I met the other participants and we headed to Pondicherry – this was my favourite place that I visited in India. It was breath-taking.

I spent 12 days at the programme, and I can honestly say it has changed my whole outlook on life. It was the most rewarding, intensive and challenging experience. I have come away with a whole wealth of knowledge. I am more self-aware, and I’ve made some incredible friends.

One friend in particular, stole a piece of my heart. His name is Sid, a young man who grew up in India’s care system. His story is remarkable and I felt extremely privileged to have shared a connection with him, despite differences in language and location.

After the programme, I travelled to Jaipur and spent the remainder of my time with an amazing group of inspiring young people at Vatsalya Udayan – a Children’s Residential Care programme that rehabilitates rescued children and young people. This experience was truly humbling and made me appreciate all that I have in life. They all had such positivity, it was infectious. Each one of them welcomed me with open arms, they shared with me photos, their aspirations and I even got to celebrate Diwali with them. One of my favourite memories of my whole trip. I hope to visit them all again.

I could literally talk about my experience all day, but for now, I’ll leave you with this message: If you are Care Experienced and have ever been told you won’t amount to anything. I hope you see my adventure as a sign of hope. You can do anything you want to do! If I can do it, believe me you can to!

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

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NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

My Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship W

hat is care like for other Care Experienced people across the world?” is a question that I have been thinking about for a while and recently, alongside my colleagues Jamie Kinlochan and Kenny Murray, we started to get inquisitive. On the 27th of October, we had the Care Family Global Gathering as part of Care Experienced Week 2018. We heard from amazing speakers; Matilda Brooks a NASA intern from California, The First Minister of Scotland, The Prime Minister of New Zealand and so many other inspiring individuals. I was incredibly proud to host The Gathering, and even prouder that it was a direct result of my Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust allow individuals to travel the world and carry out academic research.

It is a prestigious opportunity to learn and then return to use your learning to inspire people to make change happen.

I went to London and competed against thousands of candidates for a select few positions and I was one of the 150 successful applicants. My proposal was simple. Explore the shared Care Experience of people in Sweden and California and find out if there was anything I could learn that could improve the Scottish Care System.

I was away for 6 weeks in total.

Whilst travelling around Sweden and California I had the opportunity to speak to numerous people, from politicians to foster carers, adoptive parents to care providers and journalists but most important were the many Care Experienced people I met along the way.

Sweden has always been heralded by academics to be advanced in terms 26

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Callum Lynch

of social policy and the children and young people that live there are deemed to have great lives. But from my research, Care Experienced people still experience the same stigma and lack of love in Sweden as they do in Scotland. I heard the voices of Care Experienced people and they told me how it feels to feel different and to have society discriminate against them.

California was the same. I met with people who had slept in tents since they were 4 years old and I was troubled by the idea that Care Experienced people are seen to need “treatment”. However, I also saw an immense strength in every care experienced person I spoke to, a strength we all share, and a desire for change.

It made me realise, that here in Scotland, in terms of the Care Experienced movement, we are further

ahead than Sweden and California.

The First Minister’s investment has given us momentum. We have the opportunity now to create a life time of equality, respect and love for all Care Experienced people. This needs to happen now and that is why I have applied to join the Care Collective at Who Cares? Scotland, a new representative body with the sole aim of achieving this.

What my research taught me was that the need for change in the care system is global. This is a worldwide issue and Care Experienced people need to unite, speak up and demand change. We need influential people to support this change and to listen to us.

The Fellowship was a humbling opportunity and I am so grateful to those who shared their story with me.

My report will be released on Care Day 2019 and will be available to the public.

NEWS & EVENTS

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Roger Waters in Concert with

Worker l Childcare Residentia tion Job Descrip Service Man

ager

ty care a high quali tly provide h standard to consisten le, and maintain a hig , am te re Codes of peop d g of the ca an rt un s pa rd yo d da As an an e for: for children istent with National St Responsibl experience ns practice co of individual Practice. all young g way with d empowerin encourage y Tasks d spectful an Ke re an , ips ive sit sh le lation in a po Young Peop ote good re  To work der to prom Key Tasks ework and people in or RFEC Fram at the service t. en m th ve both e GI e achie of tic ac ing pr nd o ta int ese recorded a unders d embed th people are  To have Indicators an of all young SHANARRI re that the outcomes .

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Residential

aving an opportunity to perform on stage with a world famous super star is something that most people can only dream of, however for 12 young people living within Care Visions residential and fostering services this was reality and an opportunity they grabbed with both hands. Although most of the young people were unaware of who Roger Waters is and the enormity of the event, they stepped forward eager to participate and learn more.

What was required of the young people was to learn and perform a dance routine on stage with Roger while singing “Another Brick in the Wall”. The group regularly got together to practice their dance routines on the run up to the show, building friendships with one and other and working hard to perfect their dance.

This was a great opportunity for staff and foster carers to support and encourage positive working relationships installed with trust, confidence and self-belief.

On arrival to the SSC Hydro the young people were treated like stars.

There was a lot of excitement, nerves and emotion as it was then time to have their first rehearsal with Roger Waters and the band.

Roger introduced himself to the young people and made them feel

at ease in the stage environment, encouraging them to give it their all and more importantly show their “Scottishness”. They had their first practice onstage with Roger and followed his guidance and encouragement with confidence. They were then treated to 5 star top quality food such as Lobster and Venison. But like any typical young person were more than happy with their own home made pieces which they brought with them just in case!

The time had come for the main performance, the group stood on stage wearing their jump suits and hoods over their heads. The crowd screamed with joy and anticipation. The Care Visions young people held their positions and with hearts racing awaiting their big

moment, their cue came - “We don’t need no education” and the hoods were removed. Unfazed by the enormity of the audience, the young people quickly fell into the routine they had worked on for weeks, and absolutely smashed it! They then removed their jump suits which revealed their ‘RESIST’ t-shirts. The crowd screamed at the spectacle.

Resist! Roger congratulated them for nailing it and thanked them for being the best part of the entire show.

This event has increased the young people’s confidence, resilience and more importantly self- belief in what they are able to achieve in life. Leaving the event, they even had fans asking them for photos and autographs. When they sang the young people explained how they were lost in the moment and were able to dance remembering their routines with ease.

“The wall” that came down on the stage that night is symbolic of the barriers that our young people and their carers strive hard to frequently overcome. It is also a fine example of what can be achieved when the determination and belief within children and young people is harnessed and they are encouraged and supported to aim high and have determination to achieve their dreams.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

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 8th June 2018 to be in with a chance of winning a £20 voucher of your choice.

Fill in the blanks...

Guess the film...

__

“Oh the weather outside is _________ _”

and the fire is so _______________

_ tree”

“Rocking around the ____________

_”

“All I want for Christmas is _________

Fact check

What colour was Santa’s suit before he changed it to red?

In the song 12 days of Christmas what did my true love give to me on the 5th day and the 11th day?

5th day 11th day

Rid dle This Me is a Thi t you ype s fi o

nd a f pl t Ch ant t ristm hat as.

It ’s h and ung ab o ben eath ve you rh it kiss you m ead ight

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

LAST ISSUES WIN NERS ARE: Kaitlyn Crawford – 15 Dean Nicholson – 14 Taylor Ripley – 15 Josh Smith – 13 Declan Stewart 16

!

YOUR NAME:

Guess the Film 1.

2.

3.

4.

ENTERTAINMENT

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

JUST FOR FUN…

Christmas Crossword Just For Fun

Christmas Crossword

O O L S U S R Y E G D E L S I

D L O C E R W H W Q U W T W I

V T H P L O D U R C W R C K P

GIFTS COLD FROSTY BAUBLES

N U Y C A R O L S I N G E R S

C F V T L R C P X K R R X W K

I H A C R L L A B W O N S P K

R R R P S E L B U A B R Y S N

R C K I E M E L H W N A E M W

RUDOLPH SLEDGE ELF CAROLSINGERS

C J H H S U W X T U R K E Y R

R E E J A T S S Y T S O R F U

R F L K Q J M M U C A A C E P

STOCKINGS TURKEY TREE SNOWBALL

R D Y F E B L A I X B Y M T I

S G N I K C O T S I Q Z O G Y

N P R N M Y R A E Y W E N S D

D I U P H V G I F T S J Q O X

G CO FR BA RU SL EL CA ST TU TR SN CH N

CHRISTMAS NEWYEAR

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NEWS & EVENTS SO JUNIOR

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

R O I N U J O S nger Buddy the Bear loves finding out what our you him know! members have been up to! Make sure you let

Arts & Crafts Corner Here are some of the creations from this year’s Time to Shine Festival. This year’s festival was based on a music festival, so you could come dressed as your favourite pop star or wear your wellies! There were also 2 Arts & Crafts stalls – 1 was called Make Your own Instrument and the other was called Design a Band T-Shirt.

Here is what some of our amazingly talented members made. Check out the tambourines and really cool t-shirts.

I want to be a bus driver…

Stuart wanted to find out about the buses that drive around his local area. So his advocate, Nicole, arranged for him to visit the local McGills Bus garage. Here Stuart met Ryan. Ryan is a bus driver and he was able to tell Stuart all about the different buses. Stuart had lots of questions. Ryan even let Stuart sit in the driver’s seat whilst he explained everything. Luckily Stuart’s feet couldn’t quite reach the peddles, otherwise he might have driven away! Stuart had the most amazing day.

Thank you to McGill buses, and Ryan especially!

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NEWSSO & EVENTS JUNIOR

Speak Out Magazine | WINTER 2018

Girvan Champions for Change Christmas Cards

s ’ y d d u B h s i W as m t s i r Ch ith joy, heart w

Look at these festive Christmas cards the Girvan Champions for Change Group made to enter into this year’s Christmas Card competition! Aren’t they lovely?

our as fill y m t s d love, i n r a h C h t y a M arm ing with w appy th e h f i l h r c u a Yo ing e ay it br g of! m d n A reamin d e r a ou That y

The Snowball I made myself a snowball, As perfect as could be, I thought I’d keep it as a pet, And let it sleep with me.

I made it some pyjamas, A pillow for its head, Then last night it ran away, But first – it wet the bed!

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Cares? Scotland Help decorate the Who ring it in.’

Christmas tree by colou

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Leah Law APW Perth & Kinross, Balnacraig & Sycamore 07976738663

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