Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Speak to us, we really care
IAN BUNTING
People in Airdrie and Coatbridge who have experienced residential or institutional care as a child are being given the chance to have their voices heard.
The national confidential forum (NCF) has launched its # ShineALightOnCare campaign in which it hears, records and reports on testimony from people who experienced the care system as a child in Scotland.
The forum also makes recommendations for improvement and support and signposts people to assist their recovery from their experiences.
There are currently approximately 17,500 young people in residential or institutional care in Scotland and the forum want to hear from anyone aged over 16 who has now left the institution they want to talk about.
Jayne Laidlaw, head of the NCF, said: “Adults who experienced care in childhood can suffer emotional pain and distress during the festive season from the memories of previous years filled with unhappiness, neglect or abuse.
“At a time when families are gathering to celebrate, many care- experienced adults feel more isolated and alone with their thoughts.
“Many feel unable to articulate their distress to those close to them and some hide their trauma so as not to cause upset.
“I would urge anyone who has experienced residential care in childhood to speak in confidence to the NCF and find relief and comfort by sharing the memories they have been carrying.
“We know from careexperienced people who have come to the forum how much it helped them to heal and recover from their time in care as children, and how much their voices help Scotland to ensure we learn from the past and make things better for children in care now and in the future.”
Forum member Dr Tara Pennington-Twist, a consultant clinical psychologist, added: “We have heard varied experiences relating to Christmas, some of them have been really sad.
“Christmas time can act as a trigger for careexperienced people.
“We have heard from people talking about the guilt they experience at Christmas when they receive presents because that was never their experience when they were in care or prior to them going into care.
“We’d like to invite them to come along to the NCF and have their voice heard.”
If you would like to speak in confidence about your experiences, phone NCF on 0800 121 4773 or visit the website www. nationalconfidentialforum. org.uk.