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 and is now celebrated globally. The event was held at the same time as National Care Leavers’ Week, however, we chose to rename it because our members told us that although they may leave care – they never leave their care experience behind. We celebrated in a variety of ways, from our first-ever Love rally in Glasgow to the Global Care Family Gathering which was held in Irvine, Ayrshire and finished with our Annual Time to Shine festival.
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, which first took place in 2018, 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.
Care Experienced Week 2024
In 2023 we moved Time to Shine to a new venue in Glasgow and the theme was ‘film stars’, Dundonian Care Experienced rapper, EUGENE, performed at The Love Rally and Carmel Jacob, our new Board chair, hosted her first AGM!
What does 2024 have in store?
Stay tuned to find out…