Tree planting to celebrate care leavers

Care leavers have joined the deputy mayor, Sonia Kane, to plant a number of trees to mark this year’s National Care Leavers’ Week.

The trees were planted in the orchard opposite South Park on Monday 28 October as part of the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum (NLCBF) positivitrees campaign to mark their 20th year.

The trees symbolise the council’s commitment to helping young people who are, or who have been in care, grow and thrive,

The NLCBF is a forum for councils’ leaving care teams to work together to improve outcomes of young people leaving care. The theme of this year’s National Care Leavers’ Week, which runs from Monday 28 October, is “all of us, we are one” which aims to give young care leavers the opportunity to challenge perceptions, raise awareness of the issues they face and celebrate their achievements.

Nick Wallis, cabinet member for children and young people, said “When someone turns 18 and has to leave care, it can be challenging. We work with young people to give them the support they need to find work or a place to live. We want to make sure they feel safe and supported and know where and who to go to for advice and help if they need it.

“I am very proud of the many brilliant achievements of our care leavers and that we can celebrate their good work by planting these trees as a sign of hope for the future.”

Picture shows Cllr Sonia Kane, deputy mayor, and Kevin Richrads, care leavers senior manager, with care leavers