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National Care Leavers' Week

National Care Leavers' Week 2011 – A Day in My Shoes

Care leavers often find themselves dealing with a great number of professionals and services as they negotiate the minefield that is leaving care. Many are unaware of the very significant impact they can have on the pathway subsequently followed as care leavers negotiate the multiple barriers that need to be overcome on the journey towards adult life. Using live text diaries, National Care Leavers' Week and Children and Young People Now give a unique insight into the hazards, and the heartaches of the journey as well as the successes and the sources of support that make a difference along the way.

National Care Leavers' Week 2011 'A Day in My Shoes' invites all professionals and services who come into contact with care leavers to take time to reflect on the lives that care leavers live and the barriers they have to overcome. As all of our public services continue to face significant financial cuts, every housing support worker, community mental health worker, prison officer, university tutor, jobcentre advisor, constituency MP and personal advisor can have a more positive impact on the lives of the young care leavers who come their way just by taking a moment to ask themselves what must it be like to walk a day in the shoes of a care leaver. There is no cost to intelligent compassion.

Events will take place throughout the UK during National Care Leavers' Week between 27 October and 2 November 2011 and young care leavers will give unique insights into their experiences through different media. 'Made in Care' – a short film made by Voice and The Care leavers Association will be screened at venues throughout the week and personal stories will be revealed through our text project undertaken in partnership Children and Young People Now.

Wlk a dy n my shoz

NEW! - Wlk a dy n my shoz now has a live TWITTER FEED courtesy of Children and Young People Now Magazine.

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