Your say / care leavers
‘There is a community of care leavers in Bristol waiting to be seen and heard’
People who have experienced, or who are experiencing, care have immense courage and are great champions of it.
That experience of care never leaves a person. And care leavers – those who have been in care and who are aged 18 to 25 – are true experts of real, raw and exceptional experiences.
It’s times like these when we notice how truly amazing Bristol is. Imagine Bristol as a person: it would be compassionate, creative, open-minded, inspiring, aspirational, responsive, community-minded and inclusive.
is needed now More than ever
This virus has arrived at a time when we already knew about inequalities, and of course we do not want more. We cannot bury our heads in the sand with this crisis: we are all in it together (cliché). Some care leavers have great experience in contending with crises.
Social work plays such a crucial role in supporting Bristol’s citizens, of all ages. And it would be right to expect a social worker to harness the same traits mentioned above.
Social work plays an important role in Bristol. Photo: St Monica Trust
Bristol is absolutely the perfect place to amplify the voices of people experiencing unfairness. Think protecting rights and promoting equality. Which is something Bristol does well, mind.
We all sit together, figuratively, in lockdown, finding ways to cope, to motivate our minds, bodies and souls. It is an adjustment that requires personal strength and discovery. It’s hard.
For some of Bristol’s most vulnerable groups, noticing personal strength and allowing personal discovery is frightening though, and is no mean feat.
The care leaver and care experienced group have a voice to be heard. It would be absurd and silly to miss out being involved in this group’s skills and inspiration.
It is hard entering care: being separated, feeling lost and at a loss. And for some care leavers loneliness and isolation is a true experience. At the moment, this may be felt like a doubly isolating time.
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Read more: ‘The needs of our children in care have changed’
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Being in care is all about experiencing love. Bristol has bundles of the stuff, in every corner of the city. Imagine a whole city having awareness and pride of care experienced people. We should all be aware and mindful of these young people. Let’s be proud.
Feeling lonely and isolated is a feeling we can all connect with, and we can learn how to cope from care leavers. Everything is relative now. We share our metaphorical isolation sofa. In it together: sitting together. These are uncertain times but there are opportunities to be spotted too.
We will recover from this together, learning more than we could have dreamt of about ourselves and each other.
Social work is a helping profession, supporting those in need of protection and care. We, as a whole city, will now notice that regardless of your profession or position in society, helping is something we all need to take part in. We are switching on our senses to realise how this situation makes us feel individually and collectively.
Extended isolation isn’t what we want for anyone, but it is possible that we have now been invited to see the opportunity for connection in a different but greater way, which we may not have caught sight of before.
Children in care and care leavers must be appreciated. Photo: Paul Box
Now is the time to stand even taller and be prouder: the Bristol way. Especially for care leavers who may already live with disconnection. Their need to carry on is an inspiration to us all.
You can offer your thoughts, which is like a spiritual hug. Or you can play an active role and find the significance in your interactions. Care leavers deserve the same respect and recognition as everyone else, if not more.
Now is our chance to recognise and reward those who we may know less about in our society. We need solidarity.
There is a community of care leavers and care experienced people in Bristol waiting to be seen and heard. Let’s clap for carers and for care leavers and those with care experience.
Mike is a social worker with care experience
Main photo: UWE Bristol
Read more: More than one million pieces of PPE delivered for adult social care workers
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