Celebrating National Care Leavers' Week: All of Us, We are One

National Care Leavers' Week: All of Us, We are One

National Care Leavers' Week (Monday 28^th October - Friday 3^rd November) is an opportunity for the public, professionals, carers, decision-makers, and the media to come together in support of care-experienced young people. The week aims to celebrate their achievements, raise awareness of the unique challenges they face, and advocate for positive changes in the care system.

This year's theme of All of Us, We are One was chosen by The Alliance for Looked After Children and Care Leavers and care experienced young people and is about creating connections and building stronger communities for care experienced individuals.

Care leavers often face significant challenges as they transition to independence. Some struggle with housing, employment, education, and mental health issues. National Care Leavers' Week aims to amplify their voices and stories, ensuring that their needs and rights are heard. It's also a chance for organisations like Together for Children (TfC) to unite in promoting better policies and practices that improve the lives of these young people and to celebrate the hard work of our teams across fostering and Next Steps who support the young people we work with.

This National Care Leavers' Week 2024, organisers are calling on the public, professionals, carers, decision makers, and the media to CARE:

Celebrate: care leavers/care experienced individuals.
Amplify: their voices.
Raise: awareness of challenges.
Encourage: change in policy and practice.

Events and activities

To bring the theme to life in Sunderland, a variety of events and activities have been planned by Together for Children to engage and uplift care leavers:

• Relaunch of Local Offer: On Monday 28^th October TfC will be launching its updated Care Experienced Local Offer which outlines financial and emotional support available to young people from 16-18 and 18-21 and beyond.  As well as launching new web pages, booklets are also available in six languages and keyrings featuring QR codes will be provided which link to the newly updated
• Power breakfast: An empowering breakfast will be held on Wednesday 30^th October where care leavers can meet with heads of organisations including leaders within TfC, housing and education to discuss their experiences and ideas and offering a platform to influence decision-making directly and discuss topics important to them.
• Monument lighting: On Wednesday 30th October to mark Care Leavers Week Monuments across Sunderland including Penshaw Monument and Spire Bridge will be lit up in blue and white to celebrate the community of care leavers and to raise awareness of their achievements and challenges they face.
• A National Voice Awards 2024: Change Council - the TfC youth group for care experienced young people has been shortlisted for Coram Voice's National Voice Awards 2024 in the Campaign category for their work developing and promoting a cookbook for fellow care experienced young people. Winners will be announced at our Amplify 2024 event in Manchester on Wednesday 30th October.
• Quilts for Care Leavers: Initiated by a former children's services lawyer, Quilts for Care Leavers has donated 60 unique and individually made quilts to care experienced young people which will be given out during the week.  Young people choose a quilt specially designed by volunteers, which symbolising the warmth, comfort, and the support care leavers deserve as they navigate their paths.
• Celebration events: Fancy dress parties and themed events, such as a scream fest, provide care leavers with a chance to celebrate, have fun, and build friendships.
• Plant a Positivitree:Taking place on Friday 1^st November a miniature cherry blossom tree will be planted as part of a national initiative where care leavers and their supporters come together to plant trees as a symbol of growth, positivity, and resilience.

Speaking about National Care Leavers Week Helen Monks, Director for Social Care from TfC said: "As social workers, we are committed to ensuring that every care-experienced young person knows they have access to a wide range of support and opportunities. From launching their own cookbook to celebrating our children's homes and offering training programs, our young people continue to inspire us with their resilience and creativity.

"With an average of 60 young people leaving care in Sunderland every year, we understand how daunting this transition can be. National Care Leavers Week gives us the chance to highlight the support available and recognise the work still needed to improve outcomes for young people on a national level."

National Care Leavers' Week is not just a celebration; it's a call to action. By coming together, we can build a stronger, more connected community that supports care-experienced individuals and advocates for the changes necessary to improve their futures. Let's celebrate their strengths, amplify their voices, and work towards a better, more inclusive society for all.

Find out more about our Next Steps support available to Care Experienced Young People: Care Experienced Local Offer