In Inverclyde, a group of care-experienced young people took on a significant challenge – one that would bring together professionals, educators, and community members to rethink how they support children, young people, and families.
Their journey began with our Young People’s Leadership Academy, where they developed skills in leadership, teamwork, and self-confidence. Through this experience, they gained the tools to take charge of an important conversation: how Inverclyde could better support its care-experienced community.
Following their time at Columba 1400, and in collaboration with Proud2Care, the IPromise team, Inverclyde education services, Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership, Your Voice and Inverclyde Council as well as Columba 1400, the young people met several times to shape the design and delivery of a conference that would not only share their experiences but also encourage real change.
Through a series of youth summits, they shaped every aspect of the event – from selecting keynote speakers to designing workshops and identifying key discussion topics. They wanted the conference to be a space where their voices were central, where professionals and decision-makers could listen, engage, and leave with a deeper understanding of the changes needed.
The Connected2Care Conference
On June 19, 2024, the Beacon Arts Centre hosted the Connected2Care Conference, a day dedicated to exploring how Inverclyde’s workforce and communities could better support care-experienced young people. The event was entirely youth-led, reflecting the principle of Nothing About Us Without Us.
Throughout the day, young people facilitated workshops covering key areas such as education, relationships, language in care, and transitions into adulthood. These sessions provided practical insights into the barriers young people face and offered concrete suggestions for improving support systems.
The conference also featured keynote speakers, including care-experienced individuals who shared their journeys and the impact that positive relationships and opportunities had on their lives.
These included Beth-Ann McDowall from IncludEm, who said:
“The best relationships are not measured by the good times. Rather those who had the persistence to show up, speak up and never shut up.”
One of the core themes of the event was the importance of language and attitudes, with discussions on how shifting terminology and approaches could make a meaningful difference in the way care-experienced young people are supported.
iPromise, an initiative focused on ensuring long-term commitments to young people in care, played a key role in the conference, reinforcing the importance of continued accountability and action beyond the event itself. The day was not just about raising awareness but about ensuring that the voices of care-experienced young people led to real commitments from professionals and services.
A Conference with Impact
The success of the Connected2Care Conference was measured not just in attendance but in engagement. Professionals, educators, and policymakers participated actively, asking questions, listening, and reflecting on how they could adapt their own practices. Many left with a renewed sense of responsibility, recognising that supporting care-experienced young people required more than policies – it required action, empathy, and collaboration. As the event concluded, there was a strong sense that this was not just a one-off conversation but a starting point for ongoing dialogue and change.
The Connected2Care Conference is a powerful example of how the Columba 1400 Values-Based Leadership experience can transform young people into confident, capable leaders.
Through their time with Columba 1400, these care-experienced young people discovered their voice, built their confidence, and developed the leadership skills necessary to influence real change. Their ability to design and deliver a professional, impactful conference is a testament to the strength of values-based leadership and the importance of investing in young people’s potential. Their courage and clarity inspired a room full of decision-makers – and reminded us all that when young people are empowered, they don’t just participate in conversations; they lead them.