November sees the start of National Care Leavers’ Month – a national celebration recognising the achievements and successes of children and young people with care experience.
Created by the Alliance for Children in Care and Care Leavers, in collaboration people who have care experience, this year’s theme is ‘Rising As Me: Overcoming challenges, transforming and finding your identity’.
The theme looks to highlight the resilience that care experienced individuals show and how their personal growth inspires others in similar situations.
This year marks the first time the annual national awareness campaign will run for a whole month.
Throughout National Care Leavers’ Month, Medway Council’s 16+ Care Leavers’ Service will be running a number of events for Medway’s children and young people with care experience.
Events will include a Great Bake Off competition, a Knit and Knatter session, cooking classes and a reflective and relaxing event called Rooted and Restored - where they will have the chance to decorate plant pots, plant seeds, meditate and receive a pamper hamper.
Medway’s annual Time to Shine awards will also be taking place during National Care Leavers’ Month on Friday, 14 November. In line with this year’s theme, the awards are a chance to recognise and celebrate the achievements and challenges children and young people with care experience have overcome.
Recognise the lived experience of Medway’s children and young people
Cllr Adam Price, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “As corporate parents, ensuring we recognise the lived experience of Medway’s children and young people who have care experience is so important. I would like to thank our hardworking teams who will be putting on events and activities throughout the month, and in particular I am very much looking forward to the Time to Shine awards. Having attended previously, the stories you hear on the evening are incredibly inspirational, and it is a brilliant opportunity to provide our care leavers that chance to share their story.”
To find out more about the events running throughout National Care Leavers’ Month, email: 16Plus.Duty@Medway.gov.uk.