Derry Mayor hosts breakfast to celebrate young people ahead of 'Care Day'

In the run-up to Care Day (Friday 17 February), Cllr Sandra Duffy, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, welcomed young people with lived experience of care to the Guildhall. 

Care Day is the world’s biggest celebration of children and young people with care experience. This group includes children and young people who are or were cared for by foster carers, or other family members, and those who live in children’s homes.  

Care Day in the UK and Ireland is a joint initiative across five children’s rights charities, and led in Northern Ireland by VOYPIC – Voice of Young People in Care.  

Young people from across the borough joined Cllr Duffy as she kicked off the celebrations for young people in the Derry City and Strabane area. 

Speaking at the event, Cllr Duffy said: “I was hugely honoured to host young people from across the Council area to the Guildhall today to hear at first-hand about the importance of care provision in making many young people feel safe and valued in our community.  

“I hope that Care Day on Friday will not only be a celebration of the role played by foster carers or family carers, but an opportunity for us to showcase the lives and achievements of the children and young people in care across our Council area. I want to thank everyone who attended the event today and really enjoyed being part of it and meeting with the young people and hearing about their experiences and achievements.” 

The latest figures show that there are more than 3600 children and young people in care in Northern Ireland. This more than at any point since the introduction of the Children (NI) Order 1995. In the Western Health and Social Care Trust, there almost 700 children in care. 

More than 80% of children in care live with a foster carer or a member of their extended family. About 7% live in residential children’s homes. 

Over 300 young people, aged 16-18 years old, left care in the year to March 2022.  

Caoimhe Coyle, VOYPIC Area Manager, thanked the Mayor for hosting the young people.  

“We are delighted that the Mayor has welcomed young people with lived experience of care, and joined with them to celebrate all children and young people in and leaving care in Derry, Strabane and across the whole borough. 

“It is important to remember, not just on Care Day but throughout the year, that we all share a responsibility for ensuring care experienced young people feel safe and valued in our community, and that their voice is heard.” 

Among the young people attending the event was Olly, 11, from Derry.  

“Care Day is a really important day, to show young people in care they are important. I really enjoyed having breakfast with the Mayor, and other care experienced young people from the area, and I am really grateful we got to do this,” he said. 

VOYPIC is leading events and activities throughout the week to mark this year’s Care Day celebration. Festivities culminate in a regional Care Day Fun Day, involving more than 300 children and young people from across Northern Ireland. 

Alicia Toal, VOYPIC Chief Executive, said “Care Day is an opportunity for all of society to find out more about these remarkable young people and ask what more we can do to ensure their rights are protected and their voices are heard. 

“This Care Day young people from across Northern Ireland will come together as a community to connect and support each other in the spirit of friendship and fun, whilst challenging the stigma faced by care experienced people across the world.” 

VOYPIC, created in 1993 by a group of young people in care and professionals, is working together with children and young adults for a better care experience and life after care.

The organisation wants to ensure that every child in care in Northern Ireland feels safe, valued and loved, and every young person leaving care does so with dignity and respect, and thrives into adulthood. For more information, visit www.voypic.org.