Issue - meetings

Members were provided with a Care For and Care Experience Engagement update and a report was presented to cover activity from April-June 2025 and beyond due to the last meeting being deferred. Members were advised that a new care experienced adult had being recruited as a Volunteer Voice/Change Ambassador (previously known as a Care Ambassador) and was present at the Board meeting today.

The Chair thanked the new Volunteer Voice for his time at the meeting and for supporting the engagement activities and wider engagement work.

Further details were included in the report but the following matters were discussed during the meeting:

•         An informal engagement event had been held on 25th September for Corporate Parents with cared for and older care experienced young people/adults to discuss their direct input into plans and development of services for them.

•         The Voice and Change Ambassadors were working with the Pathways team to support eight care experienced adults to create a music video and start a choir.

•         There had been a football event held for cared for and care experienced young people/adults at MFC Herlingshaw Centre in July.

•         A Halloween event had been scheduled to take place at My Place on 29th October and Members were welcome to join.

•         The We Matter Christmas party was scheduled to take place on 10th December at Teesside University Student Union where there would be games and activities.

•         November was National Care Leavers/Experienced Month and a schedule of events/activities throughout the month would be circulated. On 27th November another informal engagement activity was planned for Corporate Parents to attend to discuss ‘Safe and Stable Homes’ and ‘Opportunities to Succeed’ with cared for and care experienced young people.