Care Leavers event recognises great achievements

Darlington Borough Council recently held an awards evening to celebrate the achievements and great work care leavers do.

The event, which was held at The Forum, was held to highlight the great work and achievements young people leaving care go on to achieve.

The council supports 197 young people, aged between 16 and 25 years - some with children - who have been in foster care or residential care and are now living independently.

Four of the care leavers, pictured; Katie Rooney, Shamima Majchrowicz, Jordan Hodgkinson and Abbie Allen, talked to the audience about their time in care, the highs and lows and mostly about how strong it has made them.

Councillor Wallis congratulated all care leavers, explained his pride in their achievements, and awarded category winners.

Award categories and winners were:

Best in caring – Tia Reed
Best in education - Sophie Beaumont-Preston
Best in participation – Katie Rooney
Best in sport – Rizwan Guijar
Best dancer – Milahi Nkwinti
Best musician - James Appleton
Best artist – Charlotte Saunders
Best in employment – Lewis Mason
Best entertainer – Hayley Jennings
Best Joker – Freddi Lucas Mitchell-Swales

A special group award was given to the peer mentors.

There are currently 11 peer mentors who have lived in care. They draw on their own care experience to offer support and understanding to other young people of a similar age, help them with their emotional wellbeing, and help build their resilience. Each mentor has their own experiences, stories, and skills that enable them to assist them to build mutually beneficial professional relationships with the children and young people in care, to help support them in their foster care journey.

Each received a certificate.

These were:

Abbie Allen
Kate Morgan
Shamima Majchrowicz
Bethany McDowell
Kristin Noble
Megan Johns
Robin Stein
Jordan Hodgkinson
Danny Atkinson
Caitlin Davis
Ara Kohi

The Rotary Club was awarded the external organisation award for their support to Darlington Care Leavers.

Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young people,

said: “It was a true delight and a great honour to recognise these young people. Some have faced significant hardships, yet, thanks to our foster care family, they are now confident individuals embarking on the next chapter of their lives, living independently. Congratulations to all who have experienced being in care, and a special thank you to The Rotary Club for supporting our care leavers.”

Could you help a local child needing a home? To find out how you can join our family of foster carers, visit www.darlington.gov.uk/fostering, or to apply, visit www.fosterwithnortheast.org.uk