Portsmouth’s care-experienced young people celebrated their achievements at a special event at the top of Spinnaker Tower as part of Supporting Your Futures Week 2024.
Supporting Your Futures Week is an initiative organised by Portsmouth City Council to recognise the extraordinary achievements of care-experienced young people as part of the national Care Leavers Week.
The week features a variety of activities held across the city, including football matches, hair and beauty workshops, arts and crafts, and more.
Care-experienced young people face unique challenges, such as building stable relationships, developing confidence, and navigating life without a traditional family support system.
Supporting Your Futures Week highlights these challenges, providing a network of guidance and resources to help them overcome obstacles and celebrate their resilience.
Councillor Suzy Horton, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, said:
“Supporting Your Futures Week has highlighted the remarkable resilience and potential of our young people. It’s not only a chance to celebrate their achievements but also to remind them of the network of people here to help them succeed.
“Watching them take on new challenges and connect with one another has been truly inspiring. This week is about building confidence and showing them that they have a community cheering them on every step of the way.”
Portsmouth City Council supports 337 care-experienced young people as they move from childhood through to independence.
The week shines a light on the unique challenges faced by care-experienced young adults, as well as the support available to them within their community.
The celebration event at the top of Spinnaker Tower was attended by social care practitioners and senior staff from Portsmouth City Council who support young people year-round. Entertainment included a photo booth, disco, and raffle.
Omar Mohammed, a care-experienced young person and apprentice at Portsmouth City Council, has recently started an apprenticeship within children’s social care. Omar said:
“Supporting Your Futures Week has been such a positive experience. The activities helped me grow my confidence and try things I wouldn’t normally try. The event at Spinnaker Tower was a perfect way to wrap up the week. It was amazing to see everyone and celebrate together.”
The Supporting Your Futures team is made up of personal advisors and social workers who support young people aged 18–25 years old.
The national campaign, ‘Care Leavers Week’ is organised by BECOME, a charity who represents young people. This year’s theme: All of Us, We are One, was voted for by those with lived experienced.
The theme highlights the value of creating connections and the benefits this brings.
The event was made possible thanks to the support of HSBC, Flying Solo, and Solent Careers Hub who sponsored the week.
For more information on Supporting Your Futures Week, please visit www.strongerfutures.co.uk/yourfuture.