McCaig’s Tower changes colour for Care Day

McCaig’s tower shone purple over Oban last week in celebration of Care Day 2019, writes Sam Ormiston.

The tower changed colour from Monday to Friday to mark the event, which took place on Friday February 15.

Care Day celebrates the lives and contributions of care-experienced people from all over the world.

The illumination of McCaig’s tower was praised by Who Cares? Scotland’s chief executive Duncan Dunlop. He said: ‘We know that our members across the entire authority area will feel more accepted as a result of this.’

Who Cares? Scotland worker Heather Nailard said: ‘People across Argyll and Bute have been working to recognise and support care-experienced people. We do this through listening to them, amplifying their voice and making sure they are a valued part of the community. We want care-experienced people to feel free to be themselves.’

Care Day first took place in 2015, and is now the world’s largest celebration of young people with care experience, from those in foster care to those who live at home but receive external support from social workers.

Chief executive of Argyll and Bute Council Cleland Sneddon said: ‘The image of the tower acts as a beacon for all care-experienced young people in Argyll and Bute to know that we value them.’

He said the council would continue to provide support for care-experienced young people so they can fulfil their potential in life.

A survey published last year by the Life Changes Trust revealed almost half of Scottish people think that children end up in care ‘because their parents can’t cope with their child’s behaviour’.

However, a number of factors, including unemployment, poverty and housing have an impact on young people ending up in care.