Festival of Care Invitation and launch of the Hebridean Year of Care

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar and Who Cares? Scotland would like to take this opportunity to invite you to celebrate the launch of the Hebridean Year of Care on National Care Day, Friday 19th February 2021.

The Comhairle fully supports the development of the Hebridean Year of Care 2021 and recognises its critical importance in raising awareness and supporting our young people in matters relating to experience of care. We strongly endorse and encourage the involvement of our local school hubs in the lighthouse project, which is one element of the launch.

Anyone can join the Hebridean Year of Care launch alongside the Festival of Care. Have a look at the lighthouse resources here. We are looking for commitment from schools/youth groups/individuals to work on a Lighthouse, consider the themes of the Year and the Festival, and create a lighthouse from the template that can be printed off and coloured in. Making a beautiful lighthouse to shine out brightly, displaying it in a window at home, school or place of work, we would also like to be able to get lighthouses from the school hubs for the displays in the shop windows. Photos can be sent to rmacdonald1s@gnes.net of the completed lighthouses, these will be used as part of the day, uploaded to our social media groups.

Other specific plans for the launch of the Hebridean Year of Care on Care Day, 19 Feb, include:

• 11am of raising the Care flag in Stornoway by Norman A Macdonald, Convenor;
• Projection of key themes from the day at An Lanntair;
• Lighthouse window displays in Stornoway

Our theme and aim this year is 'Being the Light', our care experienced young people are taking up this challenge bringing the light and being the light for their communities. The Hebridean Year of Care will create opportunities to engage, explore and connect with care experience from a young person's perspective through words, film, art, performance and interactive experience

In our launch of the Hebridean Year of Care, we are pleased to be joining BEING THE LIGHT, the Festival of Care 2021. Hosted by Care Experienced leaders in Shetland, the #ShetlandCrew, and reaching out across the Western Isles, the North and the country as a whole, it runs from Care Day on Friday 19th February through to Tuesday 23rd February. It also marks the launch of the Hebridean Year of Care.

BOOK NOW - LIMITED, FREE SPACES FOR ALL ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES

There are diverse opportunities to be a part wherever you may live - online, on social media, in your homes and communities, in safe ways that connect in the context of the current restrictions.

The powerful theme for the Festival, as with the Hebridean Year of Care, is BEING THE LIGHT. How do our young people bring light into all our lives? How can we be lights and beacons for them? How do we find ways of kindling light even in the toughest of times?

The Festival includes an extensive programme of virtual events and free online workshops, alongside powerful works of art created by young islanders who have experienced care. It offers a host of free, expert online opportunities for professionals, practitioners and carers interested in how we build lives of love and care for every child in Scotland.

To book your place on events, and the Festival Opening and Closing, see:

• Festival of Care Online Workshops + Links for Booking (Just click on the events you're interested in on the calendar).

For further information and to book visit https://www.whocaresscotland.org/being-the-light/