Aberlour Child Care Trust, Scotland’s children’s charity, gave its children and young people a chance to take part in their very own High School Musical, by hosting an event where they sang, made music, learnt dance routines and performed in a talent show.
The event, called Streetlife, took place at The Music Box, Stevenson College, Edinburgh, last Saturday (25 October). Streetlife aimed to bring a large number of children and young people from Aberlour’s services together to celebrate their talents and achievements, meet new friends and try something new.
Streetlife was bursting with chances for the attendees to express themselves including: a graffiti wall, hip hop dancing workshop, budding band members had a chance to play and sing in a real recording studio. There was also an opportunity to for all age groups to design and create their own greetings card which will be professionally printed. This competition is being funded by the Gordon Fraser Trust for Aberlour.
The fun continued with face painting, cake decorating, Halloween preparations and a games room. The children and young people were encouraged to give their views about the event, their service or anything that is important to them. They did this using the specially prepared Big Brother Diary Tent and in the workshops and creative sessions throughout the day.
Sarah Louise Davies, Children and Young People’s Participation Worker, organised the event and enjoyed seeing how the kids responded to the activities organised for them. She says:
“This event is all about giving these young people an opportunity to have fun, experience something new in a relaxed and happy environment. It is also about hearing their views and making sure we listen to what they have to say through their words, songs, art and performance and learn from their views.
“We are pleased we have come up with so many opportunities for the children and young people to communicate their feelings. Some of the children have severe disabilities but can respond to music. Other children find it hard to talk and express themselves, as they may have had a traumatic family background and lack self-confidence. However, they can still dance or scribble on the graffiti wall. Everything that is produced will be read and reflected on and help inform how we help children in our services. “
Aberlour expected over 80 stars in the making to go along and take part at the event.
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Notes to editors
www.aberlour.org.uk
About Aberlour
Aberlour is Scotland’s largest children’s Scotland only charity which works with and for 6,000 children, young people and families throughout Scotland who need additional support to promote their development and wellbeing. It runs 46 services across the country.
These include:
• Intensive support for severely disabled children and young people;
• Residential and outreach support to families affected by parental drug and alcohol use;
• Community and family centre based services to promote and enhance positive Parenting, play and early learning;
• Residential care and community programs for children and young people with social, educational, emotional and behavioural difficulties
• A refuge and out reach service for children who have runaway from home
About Participation
The role of Children and Young People's Participation Worker is to offer training and support to Aberlour staff to ensure that all our service users have as many opportunities as possible to make choices and give their views on the care they receive, and decisions that affect their lives.
This includes day to day choices, involvement in the staff recruitment process, and a participative role in the planning, development and evaluation of Aberlour's services and our organisation as a whole. It is also important that we provide as many opportunities as possible for our service users to be involved in policy consultations that relate to them and support them to give their views at a community and national level.