Care leaver-organised Elgin event makes a difference
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THE voices of Moray’s care leavers rang out at an event last week.
The Moray Champion's Board – care experienced young people who are fighting to make positive changes for themselves and others in similar situations – organised an all day walk-in event at Bishopmill's Elgin Community Church last Friday (November 27).
Videos made by the group which shared their experiences, particularly around stigma in education, offered a window into what they face on a daily basis.
Timed to coincide with Care Experienced Week, which ran from October 22 to October 29, a host of organisations involved in supporting care leavers had stalls, including Moray Council, Police Scotland, personal finance and literacy charities.
Open to care experienced young people aged 16 and older, the Moray Champion's Board now has more than 20 active members.
The group has already had planned and hosted a series of events marking national Care Day in February, and has taken a lead role in commissioning advocacy services and residential children's houses in Moray.
Originally set up before the Covid-19 pandemic, the group was reformed at the start of 2023.
Moray Champion’s Board member Isla MacDougall said last Friday’s event was an important step in raising awareness about care leavers, which gave young people a chance to get face-to-face with important services.
"It's good to be bringing more awareness to it,” she said.
"It's like, you hear about it occasionally, but you don't hear about it much again – it’s one and done.
"I feel like it is something people miss out on if they are not part of the care experienced group.”
And bringing together key organisations, including Police Scotland, Moray Council and local charities, meant the organisations were: “actually talking to us,” she added.
Fellow Moray Champion’s Board member Shannon Macpherson (17), said the group gave care leavers a chance to be around those who can relate to their experiences.
“The board means we can make a change for the community,” she said.
“And it’s nice to talk about the changes that are going on in our lives too.”
Isla added: “Obviously our circumstances are different but are also still very similar.”
Pamela Davidson, Moray Council’s project lead for The Promise (a set of Scottish Government commitments to children and families), said she was proud of the board’s efforts in putting on Friday’s event, and for “highlighting the struggles of care experienced young people.”
"We have had to step up, meeting with and reengaging with care experienced young people,” she added.
And Alistair Davidson, Moray Council’s engagement officer for The Promise, said plans for the event began to take shape in March this year.
“They felt, at the time, that they weren't being listened to,” he said.
“So they organised this event to get Moray Council to listen to them, and we invited all the corporate parents.”
The event opened with a speech by Alan Johnston, senior social worker for through care and after care, who said he was “really privileged” at having been asked to do the honours.
He also praised the organisations which took part in the event - along with the care experienced young people themselves.
“For going above and beyond, I want to thank all of the colleagues that have taken the time to put a stall together," he said.
“And thanks to our young people for being who they are.
“Our absolutely amazing young people.”
Mr Johnston also emphasised that care experienced young people face very difficult situations.
“As a society, we consistently expect our vulnerable young people to be able to live without support at such an early age, at a time when their peers are still living at home with their parents,” he said.
“Our young folk have had disruptive childhoods.
"They have experienced trauma, abuse.
"Many having found themselves thrust into the world of adults before they are ready.
“We need to be better at supporting our young people.
"And to actively listen to what they are telling us.
"When they are struggling we need to be hearing what they are saying."
And, he added, everyone across the care system must continue “doing our damnedest" for our "amazing young men and women."
Mr Davidson said many care leavers feel: “They are the forgotten few.”
He added that the “whole point” of last Friday’s event was to show them: “That they are not forgotten, not second class citizens.”
