Community

In such an uncertain time it is very important to keep a sense of community, not only to provide some social contact for those in isolation but also to help build a more connected future, for when this is all over.

This page is here to showcase any care-leavers achievements, writing or art and will be regularly updated with incoming pieces. We are always looking for new additions, so if you feel you have something worth sharing then please contact us by following the application form.

Care-leavers community updates

The Christmas Dinners Project

The Christmas Dinner is an annual project founded by the poet Lemn Sissay MBE for communities to provide an amazing Christmas Day for care leavers aged between 18 and 25 – one they’ll never forget.
Although it is a tricky year to host any in-person event, some areas are still planning to run their dinner and present projects, organised locally by a steering group of people who come together to make the Christmas Day magic happen, click HERE to find out if there is a Dinner being hosted near you!

The National Housing Project

The National House Project is a registered Charity that provides expertise and support to local authorities to enable them to develop their own Local House Project.

A local house project is different for each area but all aim to provide care leavers with a safe place to live after they have left care. This property will be arranged by a dedicated team of staff who are there to support you throughout the transition. Then, once you feel ready to graduate from the Housing Project community your property will revert back to a council owned property, which you can stay living in for as long as you wish.

To find out more about the housing projects great work just head over to their website by clicking Here

IMO

IMO was created by the Children’s Commissioner for England in collaboration with an advisory network of teens with care experience.

It is a great platform to share your experiences and get advice! They also share opportunities for care leavers, like jobs and apprenticeships, and give away loads of free stuff!

Find out more by Clicking Here

IMO Podcast: Open and honest conversations with care leavers - GO

The Care Leavers Association

The Care Leavers Association is a great company offering useful resources support to care-leavers.

Their new project, Care Leavers Connect offers an easy platform to find people you were in care with or other care-leavers you would like to connect with.

Find all the details by Clicking Here

Care leavers Covenant

The care leavers covenant is a great organisation designed to help support care leavers in finding work, improving their mental health and with money troubles. They have recently published a fact sheet, supported by the Department of Education, to help care leavers through the coronavirus pandemic you can give it a read HERE

If you are interested in leaning more about how they could support you visit their website CLICK HERE

If you are struggling at all please contact the REES foundation on 0330 094 5645, all our helpline details can be found on our Helplines page

Explorers Connect

Explorers Connect is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping people to live more adventurously, via big challenges, micro-expeditions, courses, events, an expedition teammates platform, an industry jobs board, and much, much more.

Adventures in the outdoors have been shown to have a huge effect on mental health, in particular by reducing anxiety, improving sleep quality and increasing happiness.

To check out their website, full of great ideas for adventures by clicking HERE

Helpful Nature apps

Go Jauntly: Discover walks
A free app to help people discover new walking routes, connect with nature and enjoy outdoor adventures. Nature Notes encourages you to note down the “good things” in everyday urban nature helping to play a role in self-management of mental health and wellbeing.
To download the Go Jauntly app Click Here

Urban Mind
Urban mind is a great app to see first hand how nature effects your mental wellbeing, this data will also be used to help generate a greater understanding of the effects of nature on mental health which could lead to changes in your area.
To download the UrbanMind app Click Here

SuperBetter
SuperBetter builds resilience - the ability to stay strong, motivated and optimistic even in the face of change and difficult challenges. Playing SuperBetter unlocks heroic potential to overcome tough situations and achieve goals that matter most.
To download the SuperBetter app Click Here

All Trails
AllTrails is your guide to the outdoors! Discover the best hiking, running, and biking trails around the world.
To download the AllTrails app Click Here

Good Reads & videos

Reading
Free boredom busting resources GO

How trees communicate GO

What 20 minutes in the outdoors can do GO

The Future of Counselling Outdoors GO

Videos
Digital Poverty: Keep Care Leavers Connected GO

The healing power of nature GO

Tedx: Contact with nature GO

Natural Geographic: Your brain on nature GO

Stories by care-leavers

Terry Birkett: Coping with mental health when isolating alone GO

Leicester care-leavers lockdown video GO

Poems

Lost In The Forest
By Pablo Neruda

Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig
and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips:
maybe it was the voice of the rain crying,
a cracked bell, or a torn heart.

Something from far off it seemed
deep and secret to me, hidden by the earth,
a shout muffled by huge autumns,
by the moist half-open darkness of the leaves.

Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig
sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance
climbed up through my conscious mind

as if suddenly the roots I had left behind
cried out to me, the land I had lost with my childhood—-
and I stopped, wounded by the wandering scent.