What is Shannon's Box?

Shannon's Box was created by Shannon Brown, our Youth Facilitator, to make entering care a little easier for children and young people. The box contains items carefully selected by Shannon, and was influenced by her own experience of entering care, with input from other young people with care experience.

Shannon was involved in a project called Connecting Voices and this allowed her to realise her vision of a hamper to support young people. Connecting Voices was developed by a group of young people in East Ayrshire, in collaboration with Staf, and supported them to participate in decision-making, understanding their rights, and engaging with corporate parents.

The box has now been launched in East Ayrshire and the first will be delivered to young people entering care in the area. 

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.

Who is supporting the box?

Shannon is Youth Facilitator at Staf, who are supporting the project. Staf is Scotland's national membership organisation for all of those involved in the lives of young people leaving care, with over 70 members including all 32 local authorities.

The project will begin in East Ayrshire, where Shannon will work in partnership with East Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership to deliver the hamper to young people in the area.

We are delighted to have secured funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to support the project in East Ayrshire.

Thanks to the Scottish Book Trust for donating a selection of books for inclusion in this project.

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.