The Christmas Dinner Folkestone

Our Family Contact service helps children to continue to make memories with both parents. #Contact #children

Following book cover reveal, here’s the backstory! Even when we put out an open call for care-experienced artists, almost all respondents were individuals without experience of care. Many didn't even know what care-experience was, highlighting the reason this book should exist.

join @JimGoddard1 for social zoom Wed 10th Jan 7-9pm. 1st hour will be talking about photos from when we were in care. If you have a photo you want to share with the group contact Jim. 2nd part of meeting general catch up and support careleavers.com/webinar-contac…

Fancy a chat? 📞 Checking in with a family member or friend can help them feel less lonely - and it could lift you up too. Find out how you can help lift someone out of loneliness ⬇️ kent.gov.uk/everymindmatte… #EveryMindMatters

Delighted to collab with @journoresources to discuss the pros & cons of writing about lived experience, strategies to avoid burn-out, & autoethnography. Trauma-mining is rife in the media industry, but with the right knowledge, writers can control the narrative. Book below 🎟️

In 1985 some wonderful people had this humility, passion and wisdom and the result was the Folkestone Rainbow Centre. #homeless #poverty

Absolutely ACE to catch up with Neil from #ArtsEmergency . Find out about Arts Emergency. It is the largest mentorship programme in Britain! This is Kent!

I might be about to post something controversial for some and upsetting for others (so choose whether today is the day to read on) BUT anecdotally, I have lost and witnessed way too many people with early (and I mean early 0 -3) trauma (birth separation, movement between carers (especially outside of the family) and of course abuse, neglect and unavailable adults (through a multitude of systemic AND individual reasons). There are many studies that corrobate this. Many. Not just the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, which many interpreted as deterministic and with suspicion. However, now I'm using the medical model as a patient, Trauma Informed understanding is dependent on the person rather than any kind of systemic approach. I said controversial as I understand that the system has been resource starved and is incredibly fragmented (rendering the ability to cross communicate across the system almost impossible). The medical model NEEDS more than any sector to systemically work within a trauma informed framework. Where I experienced a service on its way to operating within what I might consider closer to a TI framework was yesterday having chemotherapy: one to one individualised care, safety, an understanding of the importance of a settled nervous system, explaining everything that was happening, first names, listening, eye contact, concern for me AND they were full on catching up on bank holiday closures. So, my quest, can the research regarding health outcomes be taken more seriously in how we then systemically improve the adults that the child becomes in medical model settings? Disclaimer: I'm using the medical model for the first time, having spent a lifetime attempting to mitigate what the research went on to demonstrate which is that early traumas affect our health early in adult life stopping smoking, not drinking, removing processed food, exercise. The demographic for the cancer that I have starts at over 65. I'm 53. #trauma #traumainformedcare #medicalmodel

An honour and a real surprise to be included in this New Years list! These awards go to individuals, but the work has always been a team effort. We’ve got our work cut out to make sure that the most vulnerable children get a fair chance. Looking forward keeping at it in 2024!

Here’s hoping your Christmas has been magical as mine today we hosted Care Leavers at the Manchester Christmas Dinner with these lovely hosts and our guests 🎄now enjoying food and drinks with Ali 🍸🍸🍸

Our second huge thank you of the day goes to @JohnLewisRetail and @waitrose for their continued support of the Christmas Dinner project. This year John Lewis and Waitrose have kindly provided hamper food for all of our Christmas Dinners! 👏

Make that 40! 🥰🤩

We’re excited to be expecting over 30 young #CareLeavers @TCDFolkestone Please help us treat them like the VIPs they are? 🙏🏻 amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls…

🚨 #Giveaway Alert 🚨 We want to hear from you! Tell us what the All Of Us Community means to you for the chance to win your very own flag. We'll also throw in a badge, some stickers, and some postcards ;) #Community #AllOfUsAreValued #Estranged #CareExperienced #CareLeaver

If anyone knows this couple please let them know I have some pictures of the marriage proposal which took place, today around 3pm in Bourton on the Water. I was too late and lost sight of them before I could reach them.

Guys... someone read my piece in the @BigIssue this week and decided to donate £500 (£625 incl. gift aid) to their local care leaver Christmas dinner because of it!! 🎉 I was nervous writing such a personal piece, but this is the greatest outcome I could've wished for ❤️ damn 🥹

Come on you red’s own this fantastic frame signed by artist and Marcus Rashford and help raise money for this amazing charity 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾❤️❤️❤️

A former foster carer who makes Christmas hampers for asylum seekers and young people who have left care has celebrated 25 years making the gifts. Well done Norma! buff.ly/471640U

The #carol singing was well received today! It even snowed thanks to our friend at number 8 🎵🎶🎵 #letitsnow #oldhighstreet @CQ_folkestone @CQ_folkestone

Life can get really tough sometimes but don’t suffer in silence. You can get free expert advice from trained counsellors for every mental health concern. Text the word Kent to 85258 or phone 0800 107 0160 loom.ly/5nCjk-8 #ReleasethePressure #MentalHealth