THE BLACK CARE EXPERIENCE CONFERENCE 2024

Theme: “Changing Our Narrative Together, Is Love Really Enough?”

Why this theme? We know that research states, all Children and Young People who enter the Care System must overcome challenges in order to achieve their potential.

We also know that research states that Black Children and Young People who enter the Care System, experience another layer of challenges, that if not overcome, will set them up to go on to have the poorest outcomes and life chances in comparison to any other ethnic group within Children’s Social Care.

And so in this Years’ Conference we’ll explore:

• How do we change this narrative and level up the care, outcomes and life chances of our Black Children and Young People in Care?

• Is Love the answer?

• If so, what does this Love look like?

The aim of our Workshop Style Conference is to bring the Black Care Experienced and those who work in the Children’s Social Care Sector together, to build on our mission of learning how to create a better care experience for the current and next black and in care generation. Being Black, we define as a Child and Young Person whose Ethnic Origin is either African, Caribbean including Mixed Race with African or Caribbean Heritage.

OUR CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE:

Lorraine Makuvaza

Lorraine says “I am Care Experienced, and for very long time I felt that it meant I was a burden or unwanted, but through faith and perseverance, and being around those who empowered me, I've changed the trajectory of my life, and I only want give that back to others”.

Jerome Harvey – Agyei

Jerome is the Co-founder of the Tope Project C.I.C which supports Care Leavers to have meaningful spaces to feel connected as well as staff to feel re-energised about the roles they play in society, with a particular focus on the 'care system'.

He describes himself as a care leader, a person of love, a connector and value creator and growth facilitator.

Over the years Jerome has engaged in a variety of areas such as; speaking, awareness campaigns, radio hosting, empowerment workshops, music management, participation, advocacy, politics, community resolutions, support work, Mentoring, coaching, consultancy, diversity and inclusion work, international development and is currently working across London to reduce violence.

He brings realness, simplicity to solutions and an ability to create deep connections and deep understanding of local and global solutions to complex problems.

‘Growing through what we go through’, is what Jerome encourages others to think about, while to enabling more meaningful living. His approach to things are very experiential and help you to not just listen or observe but to feel connected to what is alive within you.

Angel Chizea

Angel is a public speaker, youth advocate, mental health advocate, upcoming Podcaster, Programme Officer, and qualified Business administrator. She is a Care Leaver who has been in care for the majority of her life and hoping to share and inspire more young people with her story. Fun fact she has a small beautiful Boy chihuahua called Coco. 

Michael Henry

Michael is a Systemic Family & Couples Psychotherapist, Lecturer/Facilitator, Social Work Consultant, Executive Coach, and Principal Consultant at Sakara Consultancy Ltd.  He has amassed over 25 years of experience working in various statutory, corporate and non-profit organisations in the UK primarily centered around working with children & families and the systems that surround them.

For the past 10 or so years, Michael has developed a global presence working in Baltimore, USA and Jamaica in his clinical work with a foundational ‘trauma informed’ lens to his practice. Utilising cutting edge treatment techniques that he has added to his repertoire has led to breakthroughs in other areas of his work as a positive. For example, adding the intervention ‘Brainspotting’ has been a tremendous resource for his Executive Coaching work.

Michael, with his warm, gregarious and optimistic style, engages audiences as a gifted workshop facilitator and lecturer. He is highly sought-after to deliver a wide range of training and workshops to develop and empower professionals in a number of varied industries.

Born and bred in East London to Jamaican parents, an ex-service user, his ‘Britishness’ is most evident whenever he travels around this world (which is often). He proudly embraces the many aspects of his multiculturalism.

Steve Stephenson MBE

Retired from Social Work, Steve is known as a trailblazer, enduring campaigner and author.

His campaigning success includes pioneering a widespread campaign in Birmingham in 1986 to recruit Black and Asian foster carers – shortly before the then 30-something year old Social Worker began challenging the City Council’s handling of race and equal opportunities.

Along with his team in Birmingham City Council, Steve was also strategic in developing Black and Cultural Identity Work, offering solutions to the workforce on how to raise Black Children and Young People in Children’s Social Care.

Outside of Social Work, Steve has a longstanding history of supporting Jamaican and West Indian cricketers, putting on various functions for the West Indies Team when they were in England.

He is also well known as a Community Activist in a number of cities and towns across the country, including Birmingham, Bristol, London, Luton and Manchester.

In his Autobiography Unbeaten Innings, Steve details his life story starting with his birth in Kingston, Jamaica, to his 1971 arrival in the UK.

Ric Flo – Our Guest Artist

Ric Flo is a London based Rap Artist and the Founder of Mantra Music. Growing up in foster care, the creative arts became a therapeutic medium of introspection and self-expression.  His debut project 'A Boy Called Ric' is a reflective journey about his life in foster care which has resonated strongly with the undervalued community. His album 'Rise Of The Phoenix' which debuted 35 on the iTunes UK Hip Hop / Rap Charts with no PR or marketing. Created entirely during lockdown, 'Rebirth of The Phoenix' is the latest body of work which illustrates Ric's most recent evolution and is a portrait of his journey beyond foster care and carries a sense of musicality that champions why he has a voice that can't be ignored. 

OUR HISTORY MATTERS

PLEASE NOTE: Our Growing Exhibition of the History of The Black Care Experience will now be featured at a later date and not at The Black Care Experience Conference 2024.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Black Care Experienced and Non Black Care Experienced Care Leavers (age 16 and above)

• Black Family Members who have had experience of Children’s Social Care

• Children’s Social Care Workforce (Directors, Managers, Social Workers, Foster Carers, Local Authority Virtual School, Independent Reviewing Officers, Residential Children’s Home Staff and Providers, Anti Racist Practice Leads) To support your Ongoing Professional Development.

• Voluntary Sector Workforce, Legal Practitioners and Researchers within Children’s Social Care Sector. To support your Ongoing Professional Development.

Come and have a VOICE! Come and be a part of the CHANGE!

Light Refreshments will be available!

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE VIA EVENTBRITE

THE CONFERENCE WILL NOT BE LIVE STREAMED

SPACES ARE LIMITED!

PAY WHAT YOU CAN

We are passionate about making our conference accessible to those who wish to attend, and believe that no one should be excluded because of their financial circumstances, particularly now, when so many are struggling.

We know that ticket price is a huge barrier for some, and we hope that our Pay What You Can model will give a wider range of people the chance to attend our Conference and engage with the work we do.

What is Pay What You Can?

Whilst the Event is FREE for our Black Care Experienced Care Leavers, you can choose to pay our Ticket price or pay by way of a Donation, whichever works for you.

The minimum recommended Donation amount per ticket is £12.50

The Full Price per ticket is £35.50

The Pay What You Can model will not cover the costs of the Conference, but it will still be a vital part of our income mix and contribute to enabling us to make our Conference happen.

Thank You for Your Support?

We are pleased to share that we have hit our target to cover our remaining costs by way of direct Donations in Support of our Event. We want to send a BIG THANK YOU to ALL of our Donors, Sponsors and Funders, without you this mission may not have been accomplished!

That said, if you believe in and want to Donate towards our ongoing Cause of helping to shape a better care experience for Black Children and Young People in Care and want to know how, feel free to check out this link or the QR Code.

We’re also looking for:

• Bid Writers

• Funders

• Fundraisers

• Businesses, Corporations with Corporate Social Responsibility Values

• Sponsors

who may want to partner with us and Pay Your Kindness Forward either Financially or In kind in support of the change we need to see.

If this resonates with you, Contact Us for more information at office@thetransformedyou.co.uk

Thank you in advance for choosing to support our cause.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

• There is a multi storey car park directly opposite the church building.

• The Elizabeth Line will get you to Ilford Station, which is a 5 min walk to the venue.

• The Central Line to Gants Hill and then take a 16 min bus journey to the venue.

• The District Line to Barking Station and then take a bus 10 min bus journey to the venue.

WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

This ‘Pop Up’ In Person Training Course is for Children’s Social Care Workforce and the Workforce from the Voluntary Organisations within Children’s Social Care Sector.

Designed and delivered by Black Care Experienced Professionals, this Training Course will:

• Empower you with Knowledge & Insight into how to keep Black Children and Young People connected to their Culture, Identity and Heritage as they journey through Children’s Social Care

• Provide you with Guidance on how to be culturally competent in order to help improve the Care, Outcomes and Life Chances of the Black Child or Young Person in your Care and in your School

• Empower you with Practical Skills to help you personally develop and plan your way forward to make an impactful difference in the life of the Black Child or Young Person in your Care and in your School

Cost: £45

Spaces are Limited

BOOK YOUR PLACE via EVENTBRITE HERE!

This ‘Pop Up’ Online Event is for Children’s Social Care Workforce and the Workforce from the Voluntary Organisations within Children’s Social Care Sector.

This session will provide the Workforces with in depth insight into:

• The History of The Black Care Experience

• The Black Care Experience Charter

Followed by a Q & A

Please note: This is NOT a Training Course.

Cost: FREE

ONLINE REGISTRATION DETAILS AVAILABLE HERE.

This ‘Pop Up’ Online Event is for Children’s Social Care Workforce and the Workforce from the Voluntary Organisations within Children’s Social Care Sector.

This session will provide the Workforces with in depth insight into:

• The History of The Black Care Experience

• The Black Care Experience Charter

Followed by a Q & A

Please note: This is NOT a Training Course.

Cost: FREE

ONLINE REGISTRATION DETAILS AVAILABLE HERE.

This Online event for Social Work England Week will highlight the need for Social Workers to have knowledge and understanding of The Black Care Experience.

The Black Care Experience – Shaping a Better Care Experience for Black Children and Young People in Children’s Social Care

This session will provide Practitioners with an overview and insight into:

• the History of the Black Care Experience

• the Challenges faced by Black Children and Young People in Care

• the importance of keeping Black Children and Young People in Care connected to their Culture, Identity and Heritage as they journey through the Care System

• and how Practitioners can help to improve the Care, Outcomes and Life Chances of Black Children and Young People in their Care.

ONLINE REGISTRATION DETAILS AVAILABLE HERE.

This Event has ended.

Information about the Conference can be found here.