Shoppers to get an insight on care system
Youngsters in care and getting ready to leave will be sharing their stories during a week-long event at The Piazza shopping centre in Paisley.
National Care Leavers Week Scotland runs until Saturday and celebrates the contributions of Scotland’s care experienced young people.
As part of the week, Who Cares? Scotland will be outside Aulds in The Piazza from 10am till 4pm until Friday to raise awareness of their ongoing projects in Renfrewshire.
Its project, Communities That Care, aims to make Renfrewshire the best place in Scotland for care-experienced children and young people to grow up.
Shoppers can meet the team, find out more about what they can offer local young people and about how to get involved.
Julie MacTaggart from Who Cares? Scotland explained:“Children and young people with experience of the care system tell us they feel excluded, stigmatised and discriminated against in their communities.
“The Communities That Care Project aims to change this.
“We want to make Renfrewshire the best place for care experienced young people to grow up – a place where they are loved, accepted and championed by their communities, and a place where they are equals.
“We do this by working with local volunteers, community groups, organisations, professionals and community leaders across Renfrewshire to educate them on what life in care is like, and what they can do to make a difference.
“Young people are at the heart of everything we do. We encourage them to be proud of who they are, to claim power over their lives, to reach their full potential and to stand up for change.”
Maureen Hill, centre manager at The Piazza, said:“The work that Who Cares? Scotland carries out within the local community is inspiring and we are delighted to be providing the very worthwhile cause an opportunity to engage directly with the public during Care leavers week.”
For more information about Who Cares? Scotland and the Communities That Care project in Renfrewshire, please see their website www.whocaresscotland.org