Last week we celebrated National Care Leavers Week, a time dedicated to celebrating and empowering our care leavers. This year’s theme focused on ‘all of us, we are one’ highlighting the value of connections and community for care leavers in Barnsley and across the UK.  

We want Barnsley to be a place of possibilities for everyone. Where children and young people from all backgrounds and starting points can benefit from the opportunities that great childhoods bring.  

Our local week-long celebration was packed with events designed not only to build connections and provide experiences, but also to gather invaluable feedback from our young people on the services and support they receive. 

The week kicked off with a focus on collecting young people’s views on the Local Offer and The Hub's services. Care leavers had the opportunity to voice their opinions and suggest improvements to our care services.  

This follows on from the motion that was passed by Full Council recently, that recognises the experiences of care leavers as a protected characteristic. By proactively seeking and listening to their views on services that impact them, we are continuing to build strong community connections for care leavers throughout National Care Leavers Week and beyond.  

Throughout the week, young people also had the opportunity to enjoy a raft of Halloween themed activities with their friends, carers and personal advisors. From Halloween baking, pizza making and crafts, all the way to a Barnsley themed escape room and a pool competition! It was a jam-packed week of activities to inspire new interests, develop teamworking skills and celebrate our young people.  

Cllr Trevor Cave, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s Services, said: “I would like to thank everyone that has been a part of our National Care Leavers Week, from organising to taking part, it’s great to see everyone come together and emphasise the theme of ‘all of us, we are one’. 

“I would also like to say a big thank you to our care leavers for engaging in the feedback sessions and sharing their views on our services. This feedback is invaluable in shaping the future direction of our local offer and services for young people in our care.” 

We’re committed to supporting care leavers at every stage of their journey. Information on support available can be found on our Local Offer webpage, or on our Future Directions Facebook page.