A series of activities are taking place across Edinburgh next week to showcase and celebrate the care experienced community in Edinburgh.
Care Experienced Week takes place annually at the end of October with this year’s theme being Lifelong Rights.
The City of Edinburgh Council and partners have come together, in recognition of their role as corporate parents, to host a number of events which highlight the successes and the various avenues of support available for Edinburgh’s care experienced community.
There are challenges experienced too and this week allows us connect with the care experienced community and reflect on what works and what we could do better.
Activities being planned for the week, which runs from Monday 23 until Sunday 29 October, include: creative arts, a children and carers bookbug session, mental health support, a family cookbook event and the launch of a Corporate Parenting e-learning module for council staff.
One of the main events during the week is a special remembrance service in West Princes Street Gardens on Tuesday (24 October, 5.30pm to 6pm) to mark the passing of members of the care experienced community and the official unveiling of a remembrance bench.
It’s an opportunity for people to pay their respects and spend time together remembering the importance of those that have passed away.
The week’s events build on the success of the Edinburgh Champions Board which provides a platform for the care experienced community to talk directly to their corporate parents, local Councillors and service providers. This means they can ensure that decisions which affect their lives are informed by their own experiences leading to improvements in services and support available to them.
Councillor Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that all care experienced people receive the vital support they need to improve their life experiences and their educational outcomes.
“It’s really important that we listen to the children and young people in our care ,and people who are care experienced, treat them with respect and make positive changes when they speak up.
“Care Experienced Week is a great opportunity to showcase and celebrate their successes and inspire the care experienced community to achieve their full potential.”