Gateshead celebrates successes of care experienced young people for National Care Leavers Week
Today marks the start of National Care Leavers Week (Wednesday 25 October to 1 November 2023), the annual campaign to celebrate care leavers by amplifying their voices and sharing their stories, as well as raise awareness of the challenges they face to encourage policy and practice change.
This year, our week-long campaign will shine a spotlight on the remarkable journeys of care experienced young people in Gateshead. Throughout the week, we will be sharing some of their inspirational stories and how we supported them into becoming independent young adults.
This includes Aisha, 21, who is in her final year of university studying to become a social worker after being inspired by the team at Gateshead.
As a symbol of our commitment to supporting care experienced young people in Gateshead, we will illuminate the Gateshead Millennium Bridge during the week, host events for colleagues and our young people at the Civic Centre and plant a tree at Deckham Family Hub to illustrate how we support our young people to grow into adults that live thriving, independent lives.
Cllr Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "Care Leavers Week is an important opportunity to celebrate our amazing young people who have often experienced traumatic childhoods and the fantastic teams who support them all year round.
"Gateshead is committed to providing the best support available for care experienced young people. This includes the development of a new and improved app, so young people can access all the resources they need, from support with housing to finding a job, all in one place as they move into adulthood.
"We are also proud to have been part of the pilot scheme to make travel by public transport free for care experienced young people, which has now been extended to hundreds more young people across the region.
"By lighting up our iconic Millennium Bridge as part of the national campaign, we aim to celebrate the amazing achievements of our young people; Gateshead's dedication to supporting them, and creating inclusive, supportive and caring communities."
Today marks the start of National Care Leavers Week (Wednesday 25 October to 1 November 2023), the annual campaign to celebrate care leavers by amplifying their voices and sharing their stories, as well as raise awareness of the challenges they face to encourage policy and practice change.
This year, our week-long campaign will shine a spotlight on the remarkable journeys of care experienced young people in Gateshead. Throughout the week, we will be sharing some of their inspirational stories and how we supported them into becoming independent young adults.
This includes Aisha, 21, who is in her final year of university studying to become a social worker after being inspired by the team at Gateshead.
As a symbol of our commitment to supporting care experienced young people in Gateshead, we will illuminate the Gateshead Millennium Bridge during the week, host events for colleagues and our young people at the Civic Centre and plant a tree at Deckham Family Hub to illustrate how we support our young people to grow into adults that live thriving, independent lives.
Cllr Gary Haley, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Gateshead Council, said: "Care Leavers Week is an important opportunity to celebrate our amazing young people who have often experienced traumatic childhoods and the fantastic teams who support them all year round.
"Gateshead is committed to providing the best support available for care experienced young people. This includes the development of a new and improved app, so young people can access all the resources they need, from support with housing to finding a job, all in one place as they move into adulthood.
"We are also proud to have been part of the pilot scheme to make travel by public transport free for care experienced young people, which has now been extended to hundreds more young people across the region.
"By lighting up our iconic Millennium Bridge as part of the national campaign, we aim to celebrate the amazing achievements of our young people; Gateshead's dedication to supporting them, and creating inclusive, supportive and caring communities."
