Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (GCHSCP) hosted their 8th Annual Care Leavers Open Day at the Barras Art and Design (BaAD) venue in the East End on Friday 25 October 2019.

The event coincided with National Care Leavers Week and was a celebration of the individual and collective achievements of the incredible talents of Glasgow’s Care Leavers. The Theme of this years’ event was MOTIVATION. 

The annual event demonstrates the partnership nature of support available to care leavers in Glasgow, with over 30 organisations and projects from the Council / GCHSCP, Statutory Services and the Third Sector forming ‘a market place’ of stalls at the event. The stalls provided information and advice to attendees on their various support roles in-between the formal programme.

Over 200 people attended the event, including social work staff, foster and supported carers, residential staff and various partners who deliver support services to young care leavers in the City, and of course young care leavers themselves. 

The event was led by two young care leavers, Chloe and Shannon, who did a fantastic job of compering the event and introducing the various presentations. First on the programme was Karen Dyball, Head of Childrens’ Services (GCHSCP), who welcomed everyone to the event.

Susanne Miller, Interim Chief Officer (GCHSCP), also spoke to say she very proud to have attended all eight of the annual events and that it is one of the highlights of the year as Head of the Corporate Parent.

The programme was in two parts with a wonderful lunch in the middle provided by BaAD. During lunch, Matty B (a care experienced young person) treated everyone to a ‘banging’ DJ set.

The event saw numerous performances including excerpts of a drama production by “We are Citizens 2” company at The Citizens Theatre, an amazing vocal performance from the “Hidden Rhythms” choir, plus individual vocal and musical performances, an excellent keyboard performance of Elton John’s ‘Your Song’. 

This entertainment was interspersed with formal presentations by care leavers and the support services. This included including incredibly honest and hard hitting testimonies from individual care leavers, particularly Stephanie, Kayden and Kenneth referencing their ongoing struggles to get to where they are today…..not a dry eye in the house! 

The event culminated in the afternoon with a Masseoke performance as Rosie led the assembled group with a rendition of Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’. Finally, the stage was taken over by care leavers who dragged up Susanne Miller, to jointly lead all present in a life affirming version of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’.

The feedback from the day was very positive and included the following comments: 

• “Important that we take time to ensure we take time to celebrate our amazing young people”
• “Lots for young people to be proud of”
•  “Can’t wait until next year as it gets better every year”
• “Young people led, taking charge, front and centre”  and
• “Hearing young peoples’ experiences / voices throughout the day was very touching.”