Members’ Hub
New Member Opportunities
We currently have 3 exciting member opportunities:
join our
national Representative body
NRB members will be part of regional teams, helping local members to voice their views and representing these views on a local and national scale.
You will learn new skills, make new friends and be the voice of our members in your area.
Key info:
- Must be 16 to apply
- Willing to represent the wider membership
- Will attend national gatherings and meetings
- Will work closely with local team
- Commit to at least 4 hours a week
- Must attend and support local groups at least once a month
- Commit to 2 year term
Applications close 30th June.
Stand to become a member of the scottish youth parliament
We are looking to hear from members interested in representing Who Cares? Scotland and the Care Experienced community at the Scottish Youth Parliament.
You will learn about politics, create motions and get to represent Care Experienced young people at Scotland’s biggest youth forum.
Key info:
- Must be aged 14-25 to apply
- Will demonstrate a passion for making change
- Will also be part of the NRB
- Commit to at least 4 hours a week
- Attend 3 national sittings a year
- Commit to 2 year term
Find out more
Sign up to our empowered voices programme
We’re looking for Care Experienced people who want to learn vital campaigning, activism, and public speaking skills.
You will make connections with other influential Care Experienced people and have the opportunity to drive change together.
Key info:
- Must be 16 to apply
- Will be interested in gaining new skills, developing yourself and meeting new people
- Must be able to distinguish personal views from collective voice
- Commit to 3 weekend training sessions a year
Applications close 31st July.
What is membership?
Our membership offer is made up of 3 key themes:
Reward
We want to make sure our members’ benefit from our offer. So once you’re signed up, keep your eyes peeled for treats we might send you. We’ll also let you know about any unique opportunities on offer, such as give aways and competitions. We also highlight employment opportunities. These opportunities may come from us or partner organisations. See the Members’ benefits section below for more detail.
Connect
The chance to connect with people who have similar or shared experiences helps everyone to feel understood, respected and like they belong. We support and resource safe and valued local, regional and national spaces, bringing members together to explore their identities and build peer relationships.
Shape
We support and empower members to develop as representatives who can speak on behalf of the membership community. Our members help shape and inform Who Cares? Scotland’s decision-making processes as well as having the aspiration to positively change Scottish culture to ensure a better future for all Care Experienced people.
Members’ Benefits
We offer our members a range of benefits including:
Primary
Age 3-10
A membership pack
With welcome booklet, wristband, badge and Buddy the Bear when you sign up.
Birthday cards
Handwritten to show you we’re thinking of you.
Christmas parcels
With a small gift just for you.
SpeakOut Junior
Our membership magazine for our younger members. We send out 4 issues a year. To view previous issues of SpeakOut click here.
Secondary
Age 11-26
A membership pack
With welcome booklet, wristband, badge and pen when you sign up.
Birthday cards
Handwritten to show you we’re thinking of you.
Christmas parcels
With a small gift just for you.
Monthly e-newsletter
Newsflash sent to straight to your inbox so you won’t miss a thing.
SpeakOut
Our original membership magazine which has been published since 1978 and captures the voices of Care Experienced people. To view previous issues of SpeakOut click here.
Plus
Age 27+
A membership pack
With welcome booklet, wristband, badge and pen when you sign up.
Birthday cards
Handwritten to show you we’re thinking of you.
Christmas parcels
With a small gift just for you.
Monthly e-newsletter
Newsflash sent to straight to your inbox so you won’t miss a thing.
SpeakOut
Our original membership magazine which has been published since 1978 and captures the voices of Care Experienced people. To view previous issues of SpeakOut click here.
Upcoming member opportunities & events
As a member, we’ll let you know about relevant opportunities and events coming up.
The Care Family Christmas Dinner is back, and we’re looking for volunteer drivers to support members travelling there and back on the day.
A paid opportunity for a Black Care Experienced writer to write a piece around Black History Month to be featured in our membership magazine and here on our website.
The post is focused on facilitating the participation and engagement of care-experienced children, young people and care leavers in the ongoing work of the Champions Board approach in South Lanarkshire. The intention is to create an environment where the voices, views and experiences of care experienced children and young people are heard by senior leaders, helping to bring about positive change.
Shaping our work
Being a member means shaping our work. Who Cares? Scotland is your organisation, and it is our job to listen to you.
We have created a variety of opportunities for you to have your voice heard. Our members make sure everything that we do is in the best interests of the Care Experienced community. We support our members to speak to other organisations, to local authorities, and the First Minister in order to affect positive change.
Member stories
The Care Experienced Tartan
For Tartan Day we’re looking back at the journey of our Care Experienced tartan and what it represents.
Understanding the Importance of Shared Identity for Care Experienced People
Marissa, a member of Who Cares? Scotland, is currently in her final year studying Community Development. Her dissertation topic is looking into shared identity of Care Experienced people.
Live on Set with The Beaker Girls
Our member, Farrah, 13, took a trip to the set of The Beaker Girls in Bristol. She caught up with the crew and got to see how a scene is filmed. Read all about her trip and check out her Q&A with Dani Harmer who plays Tracy, Emma Maggie who plays Jess and Chi Megan who plays Jordan.
“One of my first joyful memories is baking when I was in foster care.”
Xavier Rae, a member of the National Representative Body, is currently studying international hospitality in Edinburgh. Find out more about his passion for baking and his career aspirations in this case study.
Digital Wellbeing Resources
The Digital Wellbeing project ran from October 2021-2022. It brought together 4 passionate members to explore and develop resources for our members and Corporate Parents on digital wellbeing.
Highlights from Time To Shine 2022
To mark the end of Care Experienced Week 2022, 300 of our members and their families took off on an out-of-this-world experience at our Time to Shine festival.
The Launch of our New Strategic Plan at our 2022 Members’ Assembly
Find out what happened at our Members’ Assembly this October.
Edinburgh Fringe Review: Cassie and the Lights
Our Communications Support Officer and WC?s Member, Damien Mack visited the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time and wrote a review of theatre show, Cassie and the Lights.
My Name is Leon TV Review
Our Internal Comms Officer and WC?S Member, Damien, shares his thoughts on TV adaptation of My Name is Leon and its portrayal of care.
Have you Heard of the Foundling Museum?
Our National Representative, Thomas Bartlett, shares his visit to the historic Foundling Museum in London.
Finding Family After Care
As part of Pride 2022 Kasmira Kincaid talks about leaving Care and finding family within the LGBTQ+ community.
Shaping the Future at the Members’ Assembly and AGM
Read about Who Cares? Scotland’s very first digital Members Assembly!
Members’ resources
We think these most recent resources might be of interest to our members.
Want to check out the full Resource Library?
Here you’ll find our full range of resources which can be filtered by type and theme depending on what you are looking for.
SpeakOUT
If you’re interested in seeing past issues of SpeakOut, you can view them here
Want to check out the full Resource Library?
Here you’ll find our full range of resources which can be filtered by type and theme depending on what you are looking for.
