Care Experienced Week 2024
This year’s Care Experienced Week is taking place from 19th-26th October.
Throughout this week, we’re coming together to celebrate the Care Experienced Community and provide opportunities for our members to connect with Who Cares? Scotland, each other and their supporters.
The theme of this year’s Care Experienced Week is ‘Belonging and Connection’ which perfectly embodies what this celebratory week is all about.
Here’s how you can get involved…
National Theatre of Scotland: Caring Scotland – Care Experienced Week
The National Theatre of Scotland will be taking its Caring Scotland project across the country as part of Care Experienced Week. Want to share your story? Find out how you can get involved.
The History of Care Experienced Week
The first Care Experienced Week was held in October 2018. It was launched and initially celebrated by Who Cares? Scotland but is now celebrated globally. Care Experienced Week was inspired by National Care Leavers’ Week, however, our members told us that although they may leave care, they never leave their care experience behind and that they identify more as ‘Care Experienced’, plus this allowed us to celebrate every stage of care experience, including those still in official care settings. We celebrated with a variety of different national events, find out more about them below.
Our Annual Events
Take a look at the events we host every year to celebrate Care Experienced Week!
Time to Shine festival
This event is all about having fun! It’s a chance for Care Experienced people and their guests to come together and have a big party, dance, play games, enjoy good food and each other’s company. Each year has a different theme and we highly encourage dressing up!
AGM/Love Rally Pre-party
As Scotland’s only Care Experienced membership organisation, it’s important to us that our members know what’s going on. Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is a chance for you to find out what Who Cares? Scotland has achieved the previous year and what we’ve got planned for the next.
The AGM is then followed by the Love Rally Pre-Party where there is time to catch up with other members, listen to music and make banners for the Love Rally.
the Love Rally
The Love Rally is a rallying cry that there should be love in the care system for all Care Experienced people.
Each year hundreds of people march through the streets of Glasgow, calling out for love for the Care Experienced community, before finishing in George Square to listen to Care Experienced speakers, campaigners and performers.
CEW23 Photo Albums
Celebrating and Empowering the Care Community During Care Experienced Week
Care Experienced Week is an annual celebration held at the end of October, dedicated to honouring and uplifting Scotland’s vibrant care community. Established in 2018, this week-long event provides a platform for Care Experienced individuals to connect, share their stories, and campaign for positive change.
Each year, Care Experienced Week features a variety of events and activities designed to create a sense of belonging and unity within the care community. From the lively Time to Shine Festival to the impactful Love Rally, participants come together to celebrate their identities, achievements, and the collective strength of the Care Experienced population.
The week also includes opportunities for creative expression, such as collaborations with projects that document and share the diverse experiences of Care Experienced individuals across the country.
By highlighting the voices and stories of the care community, Care Experienced Week aims to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and promote a more inclusive and supportive society for all.