Councillors and Officers from South Ayrshire Council are pictured with some of the young people involved in the Corporate Parenting event held in Ayr
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Children and young people looked after by South Ayrshire Council came together recently to speak out on Corporate Parenting. Building on South Ayrshire Council's successful launch of the Corporate Parenting Strategy, in December 2009, Looked After children and young people held their own event in Ayr Town Hall to make their views known.
Corporate Parenting operates as a formal partnership between all local authority departments and services that have a responsibility to meeting the needs of Looked After children and young people. These are children and young people who for a range of reasons, cannot live with their own family. Primary responsibility for Corporate Parenting lies with the Council, including elected members, senior officers and employees across all Council departments. Their task is to make the needs of Looked After young people a priority and to seek for them the same outcomes any good parent would want for their own children.
The event was led by the Young Persons Corporate Parenting Strategy Group, comprising young people currently or previously Looked After by the Council.
Charlie Cannell, (17), a member of the Corporate Parenting Young Person Group was the keynote speaker at the event he said: "I've really enjoyed being part of the Young People's Corporate Parenting Group. Being in the group has been like being part of a family. It has helped me bring forward views both from young people and Corporate Parents about what a good Corporate Parent should be".
The event was attended by employees from a wide rage of services and agencies, all involved in supporting Looked After young people, as well as elected members, carers and young people themselves.
It was a very busy event which included:
- Presentation of video interviews with a range of employees and young people, explaining what Corporate Parenting means to them and how they have been involved in the consultation process.
- Group presentation of the 'Perfect Corporate Parent'.
- Drama performance by young people from Kincaidston Youth Cafe highlighting some of the issues that young people can encounter.
- A demonstration of dance by the YDance group, involved with Youth Support.
- Interactive workshops and stalls highlighting some of the imaginative and fun ways to engage with young people who are Looked After.
Councillor Nan McFarlane Social Services Portfolio Holder for the Council said: "This was a very worthwhile event developed, organised and delivered by young people to let us know about their experiences of Looked After care. The focus was totally on them and their views which they presented in a dynamic way.
"There is nobody better to help us shape the future of looked after care in South Ayrshire than those who experience it. Making sure their views are taken into consideration when shaping services is essential in ensuring we meet their individual needs.
"The safety of the children and young people in our care is paramount. That is why we are committed to promoting a partnership approach, which is the best way forward. By providing the necessary support we can encourage children and young people to become active citizens, develop mentally and physically, access training, development and employment. Most importantly we must ensure that they all feel valued, safe and well cared for and have the opportunity to develop their full potential. The input provided will ensure we do just that.
"Our Corporate Parenting Strategy aims to have children and young people take part in all activities, such as celebrating birthdays, festivals and milestones in their lives and where appropriate encouraging them to maintain contact with members of their family. It also makes sure that access to health care and leisure facilities are made as easy as possible."