Luke Rodgers BEM

@TerryGalloway Inspired by Tope, who took his own life at Christmas which inspired this to happen. Give dignity to where this began, don’t forget those we have lost. You, more than anyone, should understand the importance of that.

I think the credit needs to go to the actual people putting these on, the steering groups and hundreds of volunteers up and down the country. Gold from the Stone exists to support them, we give grants to make them happen and we are expanding them so Care Leavers are not alone on Christmas Day.

The Tope Project created these Christmas dinners, not Lemn. It’s not about Lemn’s ‘movement’, it’s a memoir to someone we lost. Tope was a human who sadly took their own life because the loneliness they experienced at Christmas. Remember and honour Tope.

If you work with care experienced people, this is for you! #WeCareWeek 📢 Sign up here → lnkd.in/e4ru3qXu

@andydsmith7 @TheCareLeaders Anytime! You’re doing exactly the same and it’s great to share this space with you.

A huge thank you to @TheCareLeaders for allowing me to deliver today @Luke_Rodgers thank you - providing opportunities and spaces for CEP to come together and thrive - a top human 💙

@SonnetSmith @lawyerswhocare_ @SmashLifeUK1 @andydsmith7 @Ricflomusic @ccwild79 @CEPbarrister @JudithAMDenton @gemmacreamer Great to hang with you :)

Thank you to @lawyerswhocare_ you have created something special - a pleasure to attend the launch last night . You have mine @SmashLifeUK1 & @andydsmith7 full support. #leadingfromtheheart @Ricflomusic @Luke_Rodgers @ccwild79 @CEPbarrister @JudithAMDenton @gemmacreamer

Beyond the Story: Why I no longer share my care experience. My first blog of a series that explore what it meant to share my care experience and why I choose to stop. Read here 👇🏻 linkedin.com/pulse/beyond-s…

@TerryGalloway I have indeed, just responded to your DM. Thank you 🙏🏻

@Luke_Rodgers Hi @Luke_Rodgers I've checked and guessing it was in your spam and you have found it. If not please let me know. Will be good to see you.

Meeting link has been sent out ! Please check you have received it.

🎉 Win a Signed Copy of "Free Loaves on Fridays" by @RebekahPierre92 🎉 Join our LIVE session on using language for positive change in childrens social care! ➡️ 3 attendees get SIGNED books! Register now: lnkd.in/egsfhX8q #LivedExperienceLeader #SocialWork #FosterCare

@TerryGalloway Hi Terry, I’ve signed up to this but still not received any links. When will they be sent out?

Bringing the councils together The resounding speeches within council chambers and the impassioned voices of care experienced individuals across the United Kingdom have ignited a profound grassroots movement. Your unwavering support for these motions has been instrumental in driving this movement forward, and for that, I extend my heartfelt appreciation. As we press on in our journey towards meaningful change, and approach 100 councils that have passed the Protected Characteristics Motion for Care Experienced People. I'm thrilled to extend a personal invitation to you for an exclusive online event: Event: Treating Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic Date/Time: 24/04/2024, 2 pm to 4 pm Venue: Online Register for Free: lnkd.in/e_-UvQzR This event promises to be a pivotal moment, uniting councils under a shared mission to enact tangible change. Here's a glimpse of what awaits: Chaired by Deputy Leader Cllr Emma Williamson (Non Statutory) Statutory Lead Member for Children's Services and Children's and Family Support Portfolio Holder. (who proposed the first motion) Insightful Voices: Gemma Ferrie from @Falkirkchamps and other care experienced individuals will share their perspectives, how they felt speaking at the councils and offering invaluable insights into the heart of this movement. Guidance Launch: Faye McCarthy from @CambsCC will unveil Equality Impact Assessment guidance for practitioners. We recognise this is new to everyone so we developed this as a starter for 10. Council Progress: Gain insight into the actions and progress made by various councils since passing their motions. Economic Analysis: @TerryGalloway will lead us through a comprehensive assessment, illuminating the profound social, economic, and fiscal implications of policies that could improve as a result of Protected Characteristic Status. Global Advocacy: Be inspired by @JoshMacAlister as he passionately advocates for the UK to lead the world in recognising care experience as a protected characteristic, drawing upon his pivotal recommendation in the Care Review. Keynote Addresses: @lemnsissay , @BenjaminPerks from UNICEF, and other distinguished speakers will explore the fundamental WHY behind this cause, weaving together love, human rights, and advocacy. Personal Testimony: @ccwild79 will offer a poignant reflection on his lived experience, providing a stark portrayal of the system's evolution over the decades. This event is not merely a gathering; it's a call to action, an opportunity to shape policies that safeguard the rights and dignity of care experienced individuals. Secure your spot now: ngforms.co.uk/pcimpactconf/ Your presence is vital as we strive to create a society where every voice is heard and valued. Together, let's pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future. Warm regards, Terry Galloway

Looking forward to reading this! @RebekahPierre92 👏🏻

I’m very excited for this event!

@TerryGalloway This sounds great - when will the link for the event be sent around?

Well this is very VERY exciting!

@HoyleTime Likewise. Anyway, I love rambling with you but have to go back to work. Nice to see you the other day, my office is down Walmgate - would be lovely to catch up properly. ✌🏻

@Luke_Rodgers Yeah, I guess? This uses the phrase “care experience” and thus extends the duty beyond traditional corporate parenting. The inclusion in equality impact assessments is certainly beyond normal corporate parenting. I’d be interested to see it actually play out though

I’d like to respectfully challenge. Manchester have already made Care Experience a Protected Characteristic. Their response to this was weak, with a nameless representative saying ‘they’d look into it’. Surely if it was any other PC we’d take legal action & stop using them?

@HoyleTime Is that different to good corporate parenting? You’ve worked in youth engagement in the past, there’s lots of work that happens to involve care experienced voices in decision making, commissioning and policy already.

@Luke_Rodgers And that they “want” to have the group “considered from the start when services are commissioned”. They’ve not actually breached either of those promises here, yet. There is a world of difference between a real PC and what they’ve signed up to.

@HoyleTime Again, the council elected themselves to act as if it was a protected characteristic - meaning to act as if there was a breach of the equalities act. Our children deserve more than pinky promise politics, and the council should uphold their commitment.

@Luke_Rodgers What they essentially did was a pinky promise, that they’ve now broken. A breach of the equalities act is far more serious than breaking a pinky promise.

@HoyleTime Chris, they volunteered to act as if it’s a protected characteristics. If they wanted to take action they would, we both know that.

@Luke_Rodgers That’s exactly why it’s not semantics. Think about what happens in this case, what avenue there is for redress against the council or the provider? Essentially nothing, because they only “should” do this. If they “must” there is an avenue to challenge their lack of action.

@HoyleTime The council volunteered the act as if care experienced was a protected characteristic, when the housing provider discriminated against care experienced people, the council didn’t act in a way that equates to their commitment. The rest feels like semantics.

@Luke_Rodgers They do, and this should be taken into account when they look at that commissioning. The problem here is the use of the word “should” rather than “must” as would be the case under a protected characteristic.

@HoyleTime But, the council commission the Guinness Partnership and have a duty of care for the young people who live there. The actions they take should reflect the seriousness of their commitment to protected characteristics otherwise why do it?

@Luke_Rodgers It’s not them that did this, it’s the Guiness Partnership iirc. The campaign to get councils to sign up is great, but very limited in the scope of what it will impact. In this case, the guiness partnership have no such agreement.