Festive final update of 2020 - the latest on Staf's projects and our programme of events. |
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Dear Friend,
Welcome to the final Staf e-News of 2020. Hope may be on the horizon for 2021 but for many care leavers’ financial precarity, social isolation, digital exclusion and mental health concerns will unfortunately outlast this crisis. Next year Staf will support you to turn The Promise into action. That’s why on 17 March 2021 we will hold our second Staf Summit for senior leaders – ‘From Promise to Action’. We will bring together experts, best practice and young people to support organisations to be a good Corporate Parent and to keep the Promise, particularly to support better transitions for care leavers. Early-bird rates are only available until 29 January 2021 so secure your place now. If you’re bringing your team, our group ticket is our best available rate for 5 bookings.
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We will build on last year’s Summit, which focussed on relationships. If you missed it or want your team to learn more about relationship-based practice, we’ll have another opportunity to hear Dr Gillian Ruch’s presentation at our webinar on 27 January. Trauma will again be a big theme next year. That’s why Staf continues to bring you current learning through our projects, our learning events and through our training and consultancy and has committed to trauma-informed care and practice through the National Trauma Training Programme ‘Leadership Pledge of Support’. You can sign the pledge too, find out more here. 2021 will also be the year we expand our conversation on the potential for a care leaver Basic Income next year – we’ve held two meetings with young people and we’re holding a third next week. Find out how young people can get involved in exploring this big idea here. As Christmas fast approaches, we know it can be a challenging time for care leavers so this year we are shining a light on the fantastic work of our member organisations to ensure we show we love this Christmas. Follow the #ShineALight campaign here. Finally, I want to thank everyone at Staf who have persevered through challenging circumstances to deliver for our members in 2020, like you we have had to adapt and accelerate the way in which we have worked to support our members and I am immensely proud that we have been able to do so. Throughout the year we have increased the frequency and breadth of our focus groups and forums, amplified your voices throughout the pandemic direct to Scottish Government and, thanks to our funders, have continued to support and engage with young people creatively to progress the work of our projects in a year when it has been more crucial than ever to ensure we connect with one another. So thank you also to all our members for your ongoing engagement and support and from everyone at Staf, Merry Christmas! Jo
Staf CEO |
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Staf Projects
Youth Justice Voices It's been a busy run-up to Christmas for Youth Justice Voices. They recently launched their Artivism exhibition, focussed on care and justice-experienced young people, members of society who are all too often ignored, expressing their voices in new and creative ways. We hope that politicians across the country will watch the powerful video, see the art they have created and act on what they've said!
This month, four members of Youth Just Us, YJV's steering group, took part in a pilot project testing research tools which will be used in a Scottish Universities Insight Institute knowledge exchange project, co-designing a socially just approach to justice. You can read more here.
The next Participation Practitioner's Forum will take place on the 28th January from 10-11:30am. It's a space to come together and share best practice, and to learn from others in the field. Click here to sign up.
We also want to say a massive thank you to all the young people who have supported YJV this year, to our partners who we couldn't run this project without and a special thank you to our Youth Just Us members who keeps things running every week!
Youth Just Us provides opportunities to meet other care and justice experienced young people, take part in a range of fun and creative activities, and influence change across Scotland. The group is open to all young people aged 16-25 with care and justice experience. If you are interested in getting involved, contact ruth@staf.scot.
Project Return
Project Return have had an exciting month with their Pets in Care Project. They are currently in the process of forming an advisory group, which will meet for the first time in January.
Another Pets in Care action meeting will be held on December 22nd where attendees will begin creating the training/guidance called for by the young people and practitioners who took the survey. The aim is to create something that will facilitate honest conversations between workers/organisations and young people and equip them to create action plans to support having pets in care. If you'd like to join this meeting, get in touch with jenny@staf.scot.
They're also working behind the scenes on an art project which collates all the Project Return kits which have been sent out across the country, so keep your eyes peeled for that!
Project Return is a Staf project, led by members of The Catalysts steering group, focused on changing how the care system understand and supports trauma. If you want to find out more, please contact jenny@staf.scot.
The REAL Toolkit
Since launching the REAL Toolkit stage last month, it's been non-stop for the group!
An advisory group has been formed and met for the first time, where they took part in a wreath-making session to get to know one another. This group will guide the direction of the toolkit over the coming months.
There have also been several information sessions about the project, what it aims to achieve and how you can get involved. If Relationships, Empathy and Love is something you think we need more of in our practice, get in touch! (Contact details below).
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Staf Policy and Practice
#ShineALight Christmas can be a lonely and difficult time for many, especially this year. Here at Staf we have been shining a light on the various and wonderful festive work being carried out by our member organisations to help add some joy and cheer to the lives of care experience young people. Follow us on Twitter to find out more.
Staf pledges support for trauma informed care and practice
Staf CEO Jo Derrick has signed the NHS Education for Scotland ‘Leadership Pledge of Support' committing Staf to supporting to trauma informed care and practice. Find out how we'll meet the pledge and you can sign too below.
Exploring Care Leaver Universal Basic IncomeStaf wants to speak to young people about the potential for Universal Basic Income to make sure all care leavers have enough money to have a good life.
We’re working with RSA Scotland and Aberlour and we’ve already held two meetings with young people. We’ve learned more about the financial issues care leavers face; how UBI could help; and the issues that would need to be overcome.
We are holding a Zoom call on the 21st December and would love to hear what young care leavers have to say on the idea. If you think any of the young people you support would like to be at the forefront of the conversation please email Policy and Communications Manager Liam Furby. |
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Staf Events
Staf runs a range of events including focus groups, forums, webinars and conferences for you to connect and learn with colleagues and peers. |
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Staf Summit 2021: From Promise to Action
Tuesday 17th March, Online
Join us at our next Staf Summit on Tuesday 17 March 2021, tickets are on sale now. We will be focusing on The Promise and how to facilitate this into real change via contributions from experts, those already achieving successes and hearing directly from young people. We also want to support Corporate Parents fulfil their part of The Promise.
Early bird booking rate expires 29th January so you know what to do!
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Local Authority Members' Forum
Tuesday 19th January, 10.30am - 12.30pm. (Microsoft Teams)
This event has been created exclusively for local authority managers to give you space to discuss the issues that matter to you, given your unique statutory responsibility in delivering service for care leavers.
Staf Webinar: Relationship-based practice in education
Wednesday 27th January, 10am - 12pm (Zoom)
Due to popular demand, this is the second opportunity to hear a recorded contribution from Dr Gillian Ruch, Professor of Social Work at The University of Sussex. This stream of Gillian's recorded keynote address from our March 2020 event will be followed by a discussion on how relationship based practice can support care-experienced young people in education co-facilitated by Staf's Head of Learning and Development, Pamela Graham, and a care-experienced student.
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Implications of Continuing Care Focus Group
Tuesday 16th February, 10am - 11.30am (Microsoft Teams)
Meeting since 2014, the Implications of Continuing Care focus group offers a safe place to discuss issues and practice arising from Part 11 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014. The recent work of this group has discussed commissioning placements, fostering fees and payments and shared good practice from across Scotland.
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Supported Lodgings, Supported Carers Focus Group
Tuesday 2nd March, 10am - 11.30am (Microsoft Teams)
The Supported Lodgings, Supported Carers focus group provides a supportive forum to share good practice, local and national developments, and discuss issues around Care Inspectorate inspections.
This group is aimed at members and corporate parents who provide supported lodgings or supported carer services for care-experienced young people. Our first meeting of 2021 will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 2 March 2021.
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Care Leavers Into Employment Focus Group
Wednesday 10th March, 10.30am - 12.30pm (Microsoft Teams)
Our Care Leavers into Employment focus group tackles the issues faced by young people in both accessing and sustaining employment. This group brings together workers from across the public and third sector to discuss and dissect current practice issues.
Over the past year, the group has discussed the impact of COVID-19 on care leavers; the Scottish Government's new Job Start Payment; and the Young Person's Guarantee. At every meeting there is an opportunity for attendees to network with peers and discuss best practice.
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What #WeLove this month...
💜 Includem supported 5 care experienced young people particpiate in #Excluded, an important documentary by EachOther about the impact of school exclusion on young people. Read more here.
💜 The Sound Lab and Music Plus are continuing their Musicares workshops during the Christmas break. If any young people would like to learn new skills in singing, song writing, DJing, production, drums, guitar, keyboard or any other instrument they can sign up directly for free at www.musicares.co.uk.
💜 We're loving sound of The Good Shepherd Trust's Christmas panto, oh yes we are! Students of the Media Centre and staff have created, performed and filmed the panto, Munro and the Magical and Mysterious Mountains. All helping to build confidence, skills and self esteem. Bravo!
💜 Care leavers can apply for devices to get online from Connecting Scotland until 18 January 2021 - make sure you don't miss out! Apply here.
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| Want to find out more about Staf events, projects, membership and training opportunities? |
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We would love to hear from you. Get in contact via email on info@staf.scot or through our social media channels linked below. |
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