Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Email Us
  • 0141 465 7511
  • Search
Staf (Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum)
  • Newsletter Sign-up
  • Book for an Event
  • Donate

We listen. We care. We love.
  • Twitter
Menu
  • Who We Are
    • About Staf
      • History
      • Members
      • Supporters
      • Vision and Values
    • Meet the Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Staff Team
    • Governance
      • AGM Minutes
      • Annual Review
      • Latest Accounts
      • Strategic Plan 2019-2022
    • Vacancies
  • What We Do
    • Care-Experienced Voice
    • Current Projects
      • Building Relationships
      • Project Return
      • Shannon's Box
      • Youth Justice Voices
    • Policy and Influencing
    • Training and Consultancy
    • View Previous Work
      • The Debate Project
      • Dinner With Dialogue
      • The Voices
      • Connecting Voices
      • The Importance of Relationships
      • #WeLove: sharing COVID-19 best practice
  • Events
    • Event Resources
    • Upcoming Events
      • All Upcoming Events
      • Conferences and Forums
      • Focus Groups
  • News and Blogs
    • Blogs
    • News
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcasts
  • Policy and Resources
    • Coronavirus Support and Signposting
    • Consultation Responses
    • Event Resources
    • Legislation Timeline
    • Policy Areas
      • Children's Rights
      • Corporate Parenting
      • Education
      • Employment
      • Health
      • Housing
      • Justice
      • Poverty and Social Security
      • Relationships
      • Trauma
    • Policy Engagement Group
    • Practice Resources
    • The Care Review
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Current Members
    • Upgrade Membership
  • Admin
    • Log in
    • Email Us
    • 0141 465 7511
    • Search
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Shannon's Box
  1. What We Do
  2. Current Projects

Shannon's Box

What is Shannon's Box?

Shannon and the box she created for those entering care

Shannon's Box was created by Shannon Brown, a care experienced young person who wanted to create a hamper of gifts for those entering care. The box also supports workers to build the relationships that are key to overcoming adversity and trauma at such a crucial time.

With funding from the National Lottery and in partnership with East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Shannon was employed by Staf to deliver the box in East Ayrshire to over 50 young people. The initiative was a finalist in the Scottish Charity Awards Pioneering Project category.

We are now seeking partners to deliver the box in other local authority areas to fulfil Shannon’s dream that every young person entering care receives Shannon’s Box.

What's in the box?

  • 1 photo album
  • 1 face cloth
  • 1 teddy bear
  • 1 night light
  • 1 diary
  • 1 set of colouring pens / crayons 
  • 1 reusable box
  • 1 treasure chest box
  • 1 book

 

Who designed the box?

The outside of the box was designed and illustrated by Tessa MacKenzie. You can find out more about her work at www.tessamackenzie.com. The box has been intentionally left black and white so that the young people who receive it can colour it in or individualise it as they wish.

What makes the box so special?

  • The lived care experience is reflected in letter from Shannon.
  • The items chosen by Shannon, with input from other young people, are influenced by their own experiences and are selected to bring comfort, ‘emotional necessities’ rather than practical necessities.
  • It helps create a culture of welcome and belonging for a successful transition.

More than just a box...

In addition to the boxes Staf can also supply

  • Workshop on nurturing a culture of welcome and belonging, through achieving a successful transition into care.
  • Workshop on ‘how to do’ a Shannon’s Box.
  • Workshop with young people to consult on the concept, contents and delivery of your box.
  • Production of your box.

How much does a box cost?

  • For under 20 boxes: £100 per box
  • For over 20 boxes: £75 per box


Workshop costs

  • Nurturing workshops for 20 staff: £350
  • 'How to do' a Shannon's box workshop for 20 staff: £350
  • Young people's workshop for 20 young people and staff: £350


How do you get signed up?

Contact Staf Policy and Communications Manager, Liam Furby [email protected] or call 0147 465 7513


What has been the impact of the box? 

"Shannon’s Box really helped me when I moved to Sunnyside, I loved the nightlight made me feel like someone else knew what l was going through and l wasn’t as alone."

A young person who received Shannon’s Box


"Shannon absolutely nailed it. Everything about this box has supported us building relationships with young people in our care.”


A residential worker who implemented Shannon’s Box


"I felt as if the whole world was against me until I started engaging with carers. I realised they was really just trying to help me through a traumatic experience and it made me feel so much better. Try not to be angry with the carers because it's not their fault this has happened to you. They are just trying to make this experience less painful for you. The carers really helped me through a lot of things that went wrong in my life so don't be afraid to speak to them. I hope this letter helps you in some way and wish you all the best for your future. I hope it brings you a lot of happiness.”

An extract from Shannon's letter


What's next?

To help us keep improving this project, we're interested in hearing the views of young people receiving the box as well as the people caring for them. If you have any views on the content and design of the box, please contact Shannon.

Published: 19th June, 2019

Updated: 11th November, 2020

Author: Cheryl Leggett

Related topics:
  • Projects
  • Past work
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Care review in England an opportunity to deepen engagement

    Care review in England an opportunity to deepen engagement

    Staf CEO Jo Derrick has welcomed the announcement of a care review in England.

  • Staf Webinar: Relationship-based Practice in Education

    Staf Webinar: Relationship-based Practice in Education

    Date to be Confirmed | Online (Zoom)

  • Brew and a Blether: Carers Catch Up

    Brew and a Blether: Carers Catch Up

    Brew and a Blether: Carers Catch Up | 31st March 2021 | Online

  • Local Authority Members' Forum

    Local Authority Members' Forum

    Thursday 18th March 2021 | Online (Microsoft Teams)

Related

  • The Importance of Relationships

    The Importance of Relationships

    We are working on a project to highlight the importance of relationships in the lives of care-experienced young people. Find out more about the project.

  • Project Return

    Project Return

    Funded by the Life Changes Trust, Project Return will bring together young people and practitioners to aid our understanding of trauma and trauma-informed practice, and to explore the supportive environments we know are required to support recovery and the development of relationships.

  • The Voices

    The Voices

    Between 2014 and 2016, care-experienced young people travelled the country from Dumfries to Inverness, presented at a wide variety of forums, events and conferences, had an audience with the then Minister for Children and Young People, and have found themselves trending on Twitter. Their report 'Listen...Can You Hear Their Voices?' was published in August 2016 highlighting their findings and making key recommendations.

  • The Debate Project

    The Debate Project

    The Debate Project, which ran from 2002 to 2013, was Staf's first official collaboration with care-experienced young people and built the foundations for all our listening projects since

  • Connecting Voices

    Connecting Voices

    The Connecting Voices team of young people in East Ayrshire has led the way in showing how their experience and voices can play a key role in defining care services in the sector

Most read

  • Implications of Continuing Care Report

    Implications of Continuing Care Report

    Staf has been working as part of a consortium of colleagues from across the sector which has been meeting about the implementation of Continuing Care. Following our Implications of Continuing Care focus group in February 2018, we produced a report looking at the issues and the good practice taking place across Scotland.

  • Scotland to host an International Child Trauma Conference in 2020

    Scotland to host an International Child Trauma Conference in 2020

    On 17-18 September 2020 we will be hosting an International Child Trauma conference with Dr Bruce Perry alongside partners Aberlour, Clackmannanshire Education and Psychology Services, Seamab, Kibble, and Children in Scotland. Find out more in this blog.

  • The Importance of Relationships

    The Importance of Relationships

    We are working on a project to highlight the importance of relationships in the lives of care-experienced young people. Find out more about the project.

  • Vision and Values

    Vision and Values

    Staf's Vision, and Values

  • Announcing Our New and Improved Website

    Announcing Our New and Improved Website

    Following almost a year of research, consultation and hard work, we are proud to say that our new website is live. Find out more about how we transformed our website.

  • Policy and Practice: Care Experienced Bursary

    Policy and Practice: Care Experienced Bursary

    The Care Experienced bursary was introduced to support care experienced young people in further and higher education. Find out more about the bursary, and how this relates to practice, here:

  • Our history

    Our history

    Find out more about Staf's history, and the exciting work we are undertaking today.

  • Support us

    Support us

    At Staf we are grateful to all those who support us. Find out how you can support us today.

  • Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill – Standing Up for Scotland’s Children or Simply Standing Still?

    Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill – Standing Up for Scotland’s Children or Simply Standing Still?

    Currently at Stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament, this Bill aims to change the minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) to 12 years of age from the current level of 8 – the lowest in Europe. Our article questions whether the Bill goes far enough, and whether it truly works to support Scotland’s children and young people.

  • Current Members

    Current Members

    Staf currently has over 70 members, including local authorities, third sector organisations and private sector care providers.

Tag cloud

Project Return

Latest tweet

Tweets by StafScot

Contact us

Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum

Edward House, 2nd Floor, 199 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3EX

T: 0141 465 7511

Email Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy and Cookies Policy
  • Terms & Conditions


Accessibility: 
Black on white version | White on black version | Reset to standard style


Registered in Scotland as a Company Limited by Guarantee. Company Number: SC286432.

Recognised as a Scottish Charity. Scottish Charity Number SC 030522