The Forum: a podcast by Staf

The Forum is a podcast by Staf, Scotland's membership organisation for all those who support young people leaving care. Join us as we talk to people in the sector about issues that affect care leavers, particularly in their transition to adulthood and interdependence.

8. 'Now is the time to make a difference' Staf Board member Rosie Moore

In this episode we hear from board member Rosie Moore who shares what it's like to be a board member, how she applied and was appointed, what she gets out of it and what she'd say to anyone with experience of care who would be interested in applying to be a Youth Director on the Staf board. You can find out more about how to apply at staf.scot/jobs

7. The Promise Scotland on workforce support, relationships and tackling poverty

In this edition Pamela Graham, Staf's Head of Learning and Development talks to Thomas Carlton, Implementation Lead at The Promise Scotland about the latest developments, workforce support, the importance of relationships and how The Promise Scotland can support organisations to improve the economic wellbeing of care leavers.

6. Co-production at its finest: discover how Youth Just Us and No Knives Better Lives created the 'Nae Danger' game

Chris and Ashley from Youth Just Us share their experiences of co-producing and literally adding their voices to the No Knives Better Lives' 'Nae Danger' game. They are joined by Emily Beever (Youth Link Scotland/NKNB) and Ruth Kerracher and Pamela Graham from Staf. The podcast explores how content was created collaboratively during lockdown and the importance of listening to experience to create a genuine and impactful video game which has the potential to change lives.

For more information about the game you can read our blog by our Participation Consultant Kevin Lafferty

Episode 5: Talking Poverty - In conversation with SallyAnn Kelly, CEO Aberlour

Staf CEO Jo Derrick speaks to Staf Chair and CEO of Aberlour SallyAnn Kelly about poverty, the pandemic and the potential for a care leaver Basic Income in Scotland. We discover the huge rise in the number of families claiming financial support during the pandemic and asks that, in relation to the notion of a Universal Basic Income that, 'as a country we need to step up to the plate and offer unconditional guarantees for our young people in a way we have never done before.'

Episode 4: Shannon's Box: making entering care a little easier

Shannon's Box was created by Shannon Brown 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. Supported by Staf, in partnership with East Ayrshire Council, Shannon has made her dream a reality.

In this episode of The Forum we speak to young people who have received Shannon’s Box in East Ayrshire, and the workers who have supported them, on the difference the box has made to entering care.

Episode 3: Care Experienced Bursary - In Conversation with John Swinney

Join us for the third edition of The Forum where we discuss The Care Experienced Bursary with John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Our Policy and Communications Manager, Liam Furby, and Youth Just Us Peer Leader, Kevin Lafferty, ask Mr Swinney a range of questions around the policy's implementation, and current entitlement restrictions.

Episode 2: Love in the Care System

Join us for the second edition of our podcast. We met with Joanna McCreadie (Seamab) and Rosie Moore, who co-chair the Love work group at the Independent Care Review. Listen as Pamela Graham, Head of Learning and Development at Staf, asks them about their work on love. Find out more about the work of the Independent Care Review by visiting their website, or follow them on twitter.

The Forum Extra: Continuing Care

Join us for The Forum Extra, our bite-sized podcast around continuing care, as Pamela (Head of Learning and Development) tells us more about Staf's focus groups, reminds us what continuing care is and members of the Implications of Continuing Care focus group share some positive practice taking place in their areas.

Episode 1. Supporting the Workforce

On Care Day 2019 we're excited to launch The Forum - Staf's first-ever podcast. We spoke to Pauline Connelly who is a Senior Worker at Tremanna children's home in Slamannan, just outside Falkirk. Our Head of Learning and Development, Pamela Graham, spoke to Pauline about how we can support the workforce to deliver trauma-informed and trauma-responsive care and about the unique model of care that has been developed at Tremanna.

Credits:

Introduction and exit music: Heartwarming by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com).

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Latest

Youth Justice Voices response to Children's Care and Justice Bill

A small number of care and justice experienced young people from Youth Just Us and Inside Out responded to the Children's Care and Justice Bill. We share a summary of their views.
Welsh Government Launches Basic Income Pilot for Care Leavers

The Welsh Government have launched their basic income pilot for care leavers, something we are keen to introduced for care leavers in Scotland. Find out more here.
Youth Just Us Mural Trail

Youth Just Us were treated to a private tour of the Yard Works Festival 22 murals at SWG3. Check out some of the amazing artwork in our gallery.
Congratulations SallyAnn Kelly OBE

We're thrilled that Aberlour CEO and our Chair, SallyAnn Kelly has received an OBE for Services to Families in Scotland.

Young Funder's Grant

Applications for the Young Funder's Grant are now closed. Alternative sources of funding are included here.
The Promise explained: what the Care Review means for the workforce

Scotland’s Independent Care Review has published its final conclusions. Five reports have been published and the main report ‘The Promise’ runs to 124 pages. To keep our members informed, we will set out the conclusions in a series of brief summaries.
Local Elections 2022: Manifesto Round-Up

A look at the five main parties and their manifestos heading into the local elections 2022
Grants of up to £750 available to care experienced young people

We are delighted to announce our Young Funder's Grant is now open for applications.
Relationship Based Practice: What does it really look like?

Mary Glasgow facilitated one of our workshops at our Annual Conference 2017, setting out the principles of a restorative, child-centred and family-minded approach that aims to mitigate the effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Find out more and download Mary's presentation.
Our history

Find out more about Staf's history, and the exciting work we are undertaking today.
GIRFEC: A Guide to Getting it Right for Every Child

GIRFEC (or Getting it Right for Every Child) is the national approach in Scotland to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of our children and young people by offering the right help at the right time for the right people. Find out more about the GIRFEC approach.
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.
Vision and Values

Staf's Vision, and Values
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.