The exhibition runs from October 25 to 27 at Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery and has the theme ‘Belonging’.
The pieces were created specifically for Care Leavers Week and include poetry, 3D modelling, painting and photography.
Care Leavers Week is a national event taking place from October 24-28 celebrating the achievements and contributions made by care experienced young adults.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is holding events throughout the week for the care leavers it supports, including the public art exhibition and private events where council staff, partner agencies and young people will celebrate together.
The council and its partners support young people who are leaving care, or who have already left care, up to the age of 25. All elected council members and officers take on the role of ‘corporate parent’ to looked-after children and care experienced young adults in B&NES.
All young people aged between 18 and 21, or up to 25 if needed, have a Personal Advisor in the Care Experienced Team. A Personal Advisor is a support worker who helps the care experienced young person navigate the transition from care and their journey into adulthood. The advisors offer individualised advice, guidance, advocacy and direct support for each young person’s health, housing, education and employment, financial, and relationship needs, whenever they need it.
The council currently supports 105 care leavers in Bath and North East Somerset who are allocated to a Personal Advisor. A further 78 people aged between 21 and 25 who do not need an advisor can ask for support from the Care Experienced Team at any time.
A care experienced young adult said: “Being in care is a struggle, most of us don’t have parents we can rely on but our workers are our family, they support us, make sure we’re safe and help when we need them. I still have support from my Personal Advisor even though I no longer need her. We have a weekly text or phone call for a catch up. It’s nice to know that they believe in us even when we don’t believe in ourselves”.
Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, and Communities, said: “It is exciting for us as corporate parents that art created by our care leavers will be going on display to the public. Care Leavers Week is going to be a real celebration of the achievements by young adults and will help ensure that they are recognised.
“Leaving care is a huge step for young people, but we don’t stop caring for them. Our team and our partners do excellent work to make sure they feel safe and supported as they make a life on their own. Thank you to everyone who has supported us with the exhibition and to our care leavers for contributing their pieces of art - I am very much looking forward to seeing them for myself.”
The council works closely with Off the Record which runs a group for care experienced young adults. The Care Experienced Council is for 18-25 year-olds in B&NES who have experience of being in care to come together, share their views and help to improve the care system for their younger peers. Two members of the Care Experienced Council said: “I get to speak my mind and share my thoughts and feelings” and, “I get to make a difference to the newer people in care.”
Victoria Art Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30am until 5pm with last entry at 4.30pm. The exhibition of the care leavers’ art runs from Tuesday, October 25 to Thursday, October 27. The council’s Care Leavers Week activities have been supported by Off the Record Bath and North East Somerset, Victoria Art Gallery, The Framing Workshop, Hall and Woodhouse and Bath City Football Club.
More information about the support the council provides for care leavers can be found at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/care-leavers-local-offer
