National care leavers week is over – here’s what we did!

28 October 2023

Over the last week, we’ve joined forces with our care leavers and their PAs to run a bunch of fantastic events – all to celebrate National Care Leavers Week!

Our main event was a big mix of crazy golf, pool and shuffleboard in Boom Battle Bar – our other events were a pizza party in Exeter, axe throwing up North, and some bowling in the South! But most amazingly, we had a over 100 people join us!! We’re so glad to have seen so many new faces as well!

Some quotes we’ve gathered from the events:

“Care Leavers week is important because we can make it as a celebration instead of us feeling like case studies – and we get recognised and we feel good as young people about it” (S, 22)

“It’s an opportunity to have a good time with our PAs, without there being an agenda we have to discuss. It helps us feel like normal young people” (M, 21)

“I enjoyed Friday very much! it’s possibly the happiest I’ve been in a while even though know I tend to look miserable constantly.” (S, 21)

“It’s been fantastic to see these events grow over the last few years. And it’s been even better to see the formation of a community of care experienced young people in Devon who all support and care for one another. We had lots of PAs come along to this year’s events too, and it was great to see every having a good time all together.” (Claire, SUSU Team leader)