The future can feel like an uncertain place for a young person nowadays. Headlines frequently highlight the challenges facing young people, in employment, education, housing and beyond. When conversations focus on barriers rather than opportunities, it can be difficult to be hopeful about what lies ahead.
For Care Experienced young people, these challenges are often compounded by the way their lives are portrayed in the media.
Television, film and social media shape how we understand different communities, and that is no different for the Care Experienced community. The media reports statistics about their likelihood of experiencing homelessness or being incarcerated. On screen, characters with experience of care are portrayed as opposite extremes: either superheroes who overcome extraordinary adversity or villains whose pasts define them. The ordinary, everyday realities of their lives are too often missing.
This Care Experienced Week, we are challenging these narratives by celebrating a community of people living all kinds of lives, both extraordinary and ordinary.
Across Scotland, Care Experienced people are pursuing their passions and careers and contributing to their communities. From UFC fighter Chris Duncan and Glasgow MSP Zen Ghani to student neurologist and MMA fighter Steven Beattie, rapper Eugene and author Kirsty Capes, their stories demonstrate the breadth of talent present within this community.
“It is not easy to overcome what you go through and it certainly never leaves you. But that isn’t what matters and doesn’t make me who I am, yes it is part of me but not my entire identity. If you told me that I’d have my own business 2 years ago, I would have laughed in your face. I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved and what is going to come next.“ (Care Experienced person, 2026)
Stories in this series are examples of the amazing Care Experienced community and how their commitment and hard work pushes them towards their future with such passion. We want to inspire others and show that their experience of care can be an asset and the building blocks you can use to thrive and it doesn’t need to limit you in any way.
Yet, looking forward to the future, means something different for everyone. It might mean pursuing an education, starting a business, following a creative passion or building a happy and secure home for your family.
“When I’m older, I want to be an artist. I love drawing and painting.” (Care Experienced member, Wee Diamonds group, 2026)
“My goal in the future is to get my Doctorate in psychology, I have such a passion for mental health and I would love to be a big part of people’s recovery journeys.” (Dionne, 2026)
“I want just a quiet life. I want to a wee house for my family and kids – just easy goals for me. Nothing too big or lavish.” (Eugene, 2026)
However, encouraging Care Experienced people to dream big cannot just be it It is not enough to ask young people to persevere if the opportunities and support they need are not there.
Organisations, public bodies, communities and the Scottish Government all have a vital role in creating the conditions in which Care Experienced people can thrive. With four years remaining until the 2030 deadline for keeping the Promise, these commitments must translate into meaningful, lasting change.
That means listening to Care Experienced people and ensuring they have the relationships, resources and opportunities needed to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
Creating positive futures is a collective responsibility. We all have a part to play in helping Care Experienced people build lives that reflect their own hopes and aspirations.
So, what are you doing to help make these futures possible?
Therefore, our ask to you is – how are you facilitating these futures? How are you going to support Care Experienced young people to help them achieve their dreams? We invite you to demonstrate the work you are doing to support Scotland’s Care Experienced community.
We’re also inviting Care Experienced people to share their aspirations, goals and advice for others as part of this week’s series. To get involved, you can tag us on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok.
