We are joining the national Care Experienced Month with a varied local programme celebrating the strengths, achievements and influence of cared for and care experienced children and young people, reflecting its corporate parenting responsibility to support them and help them to thrive.

This year’s national theme, ‘Leading the Way – From Experience to Empowerment’, reflects Torbay’s commitment to listening to young people, acting on what they tell us and enabling their experiences to shape positive change.

A highlight will be a creative project with local street artist Szabotage at Rise and Reach, the new Care Experienced Hub in Paignton that opened earlier this year for care experienced young people aged 16 to 25, culminating in a new graffiti mural at the end of November. The artwork will create a bold and lasting feature within a space that is important to local children and young people.

Councillor Nick Bye, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “National Care Leavers Month gives us the chance to celebrate the successes of our care experienced young people here in Torbay and talk about the support that we give them along with our local partners.

“Supporting care experienced young people is a responsibility we share across the council as corporate parents. It is central to our commitment to ensuring children and young people are safe and live well within their communities, as outlined in our Community and Corporate Plan. We want our care experienced young people to live their best lives and achieve their full potential here in Torbay.

“We have some great events and activities this month for care experienced young people and of course earlier this year we opened the new Care Experienced Hub at Paignton, providing a great facility and further demonstrating our commitment to them.”

Other events taking place throughout the month:

A relational practice conference with Mary-Anne Hodd on 19 November, bringing colleagues and partners together to explore how strong, respectful relationships can improve practice and outcomes for children and families.

To mark the beginning and end of Care Experienced Month, Torbay’s festoon lighting will be turned blue on 2, 3 and 4 November, and 25, 26 and 27 November. This will connect Torbay with the national light-up campaign, which sees buildings and landmarks illuminated in blue as a visible show of unity, pride and support for care-experienced people across the country.

Another special activity will be the Train of Lights, generously provided by Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company for our cared for and care experienced children and young people, together with their families or carers. This has now been running successfully for a number of years and is an annual highlight.

The wider programme includes creative activities, Children in Care Council and participation sessions, “Language that Cares” events and opportunities to celebrate young people’s achievements.

As part of the month, Torbay Council will also hold its Practice Week, providing opportunities for colleagues to learn, reflect and strengthen their practice.

Care Experienced Month is a national opportunity, led by Become charity to recognise the contribution, potential and achievements of people with care experience. In Torbay, it is also an opportunity to turn listening into action and ensure lived experience continues to influence local services and decisions throughout the year, as part of our shared responsibility as corporate parents.

You can watch the video from the opening of the Care Experienced Hub on our YouTube channel. 

More information about our support for care experienced young people is on our website. 

Find out more about Torbay Council’s Corporate Parenting commitment and the pledge to Cared For and Care Experienced Young People.