Shetland shines a light with its Care Experienced residents next week as the community hosts its second annual Festival of Care on 19-23 February.
Who Cares? Scotland and Shetland Islands Council have organised the event in collaboration with Care Experienced young people (The #ShetlandCrew). The aim is to challenge myths, stereotypes and popular understandings of care, and celebrate the unique achievements of the isles’ Care Experienced young people.
The powerful theme for the Festival is ‘Being the Light’ - how do our young people bring light into all our lives? How can we be lights and beacons for them? How do we find ways of kindling light even in the toughest of times?
The Festival will include a series of exciting online opportunities for young people, carers, professionals and the wider community. Launching on National Care Day (19th February), it will explore, engage and connect with Care Experience from a young person’s perspective through, art, culture and interactive online workshop experiences.
Care Experienced young islanders are producing striking works of public art installed across Lerwick. These works bring together lived experience and the art of those who grow up with experience of care, in collaboration with Dr Siun Carden, Research fellow for Rural Creativity at the University of the Highland and Islands, and distinguished Shetland poet Jen Hadfield, winner of 2008’s T.S. Eliot Prize.
Ciara North, from #ShetlandCrew explains the festival's aims: “The Festival of Care aims to show that Care Experienced people are a light within the community, that we all deserve a voice, and how no-one is alone when it comes to being Care Experienced. Being Care Experienced can be a huge part of someone's life. It can be hard to grow up within these circumstances. Being in care shouldn't be something that has to be faced alone and the Festival of Care hopes to highlight how everyone can make a difference, no matter how small.”
George Smith, Chair of the Council’s Education and Families Committee said: “I am delighted that Shetland is holding its second annual Festival of Care. Circumstances are clearly different from our first festival but in many ways that makes it all the more important that we celebrate the work being done to support and listen to our care experienced young people and those supporting them.
“The Independent Care Review concluded in 2020 with its findings, The Promise, now at the start of the implementation phase. While this is a long term piece of work it will be useful to explore how we intend taking it forward in Shetland - some of the Festive of Care workshops will help to inform that. I look forward to a weekend of celebration and learning.”
The Festival programme (PDF file, 0.3Mb) and more details are available on the Who Cares? Scotland website
- Who Cares? Scotland’s vision is a lifetime of equality, respect and love for Care Experienced people. For more information please visit www.whocaressotland.org and https://twitter.com/WhoCaresScot
- Who Cares? Scotland’s service is commissioned in Shetland by the Shetland Islands Council, with support offered to Care Experienced children and young people and other young people who might benefit from the service. This service supports a broad range of independent advocacy and participation opportunities to children and young people residing in Shetland.