Care About Care?
A creative conversation for those who work in, make decisions about or have experience of the care system.
The annual event started in 2019 with a one day event filled with performances, conversations and interactive experiences, developed into a 4 day online festival in 2020 and back to a one day action packed in person event in 2021, 2022 and 2023
You can find out more about all editions of Care About Care? below.
2023 Care About Care?
Care About Care? 2023 took place during National Care Leavers Week at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Friday 3rd November.
Celebrate and learn about Troupe - Curious Monkey’s creative work with care-experienced young people
The event included a training session on The Troupe Handbook, a chance to experience our 360 films and a sharing of a new performance by members of Troupe.
The training session on The Troupe Handbook was an opportunity to share in all our learning from nearly a decade Troupe - a creative project with care experienced young people. The training explored our high quality, best practice in engaging young people with care experience in creative arts co-creation.
Delivered by Amy Golding, Artistic Director, Curious Monkey colleagues and Troupe Alumni. We presented our brand new Troupe Handbook that covers all aspects of project management including from budgets to practice, ethos of care to co-creation, inclusive practice, recruiting staff and artists, evaluation and programmers of creative work.
2021 Care About Care?
Care About Care? 2021 transformed Gosforth Civic Theatre into an all inclusive High School Prom.! We invited audiences to dance, let their hair down and be themselves, while smashing prom stereotypes and throwing the ultimate party! We dusted off charity shop clothes, forgotten fancy dress and encouraged everyone to attend wearing whatever made them feel most like themselves. The jammed packed one day programme featured immersive theatre, spoken word, rap, dance, performances, virtual reality films, an interactive podcast, storytelling, workshops, open space discussion and debate.
Bonnie and the Bonnettes
Theatre company and drag/cabaret trio based in the North East founded in 2016 by Cameron Sharp, Rebecca Glendenning and Hattie Eason. They believe a good night out is the perfect place for communication, celebration, and a shared experience. They want to create pockets of joy in the places they visit, the people they work with, and the audiences they meet.
Let’s Talk Conflict Podcast
A group of care experts, and friends, have teamed up with Leap Confronting Conflict to create a podcast ‘Let’s Talk Conflict’.
Troupe
Curious Monkey's own drama group present an immersive piece of theatre about a young person discovering who they are. They explore the issues they may face as a person who is part of the LGBTQIIA+ community and also the care system. Looking at their own personal relationships they find out whether or not they can gain acceptance from those closest to them and also themselves.
Care to Dance
Social enterprise that aims to support care-experienced young people through dance. The group of young people who will be performing at the Care about Care? event have been dancing together since 2019 and continue to share their creativity and love for dance. They performed a number of routines including their own choreographed solos!
“This is my first care about care and I’m balled over by the knowledge and wisdom in the room. Society benefits! My pledge is to come again next year.”
— Care About Care 2021 Attendee.
“I think it’s something really special having all these people in the room to have these discussions. It doesn’t happen as often as it should or is needed. There’s a real need for communication between local authorities because they can learn from each other so I’m going to push for this with my connections in other local authority care systems.”
— Care About Care 2021 Attendee.
2020 Online Festival Programme
The 2020 Care About Care? Festival took place online from 27th - 30th October. The 4 day programme featured a poetry workshop, inspiring films, discussions, a book club, an online exhibition, a premiere and research projects. The festival ended with an open space conversation focussing around change for the future. The session had no pre-set agenda or order of business, instead the conversation was set by the people who attend and centred around the discussions that were urgent in the moment and thoughts that were sparked from the events throughout the festival.
Care About Care: The Launch
The festival opening event delved into the packed programme, we heard from our young comperes and watched special poetry performances from Sky and Tiff.
Standing Patient: People with Different Flavours
Element’s first ever virtual exhibition, in collaboration with Big Rat. Studios. It is the result of two month's work, between May and July 2020.
‘The Collection’ A film by Troupe
In 2019 Troupe, a group of young people with experience of the care system, set out to co-create a new play with a team of professional theatre makers.
Home Girl Online Book Club
An exclusive insight into Plus One's online book club, we heard about the process and how it has helped to support care experienced young people during lock down.
Leaving 360
A film sharing the experiences of young people as they move through different placements in the care system. Developed through the voices of those with care experience.
Practice Insight Plus Q&A
Dr Kay Hepplewhite and Professor Alex Nunn gave us an in-depth look at their respective research.
Alex Wheatle and Lucy James In Conversation
A conversation between author Alex Wheatle and Plus One Ambassador, Lucy James examining the creative process of adapting Alex’s novel for theatre next year and exploring the challenges and triumphs of the partnership.
360 Film Consultation Workshop
This film consultation was specifically for young people who have experience of being in the care system. The workshop will help us inform the development of new work.
Fed Up Of Not Being Heard
Led by award winning performance poet and workshop facilitator Sky Hawkins, this informal poetry workshop was for young people aged 11 to 25.
Hear Me: A Night of Short Performances
A night of short performances that brought together young people with care experience from all over the UK (and the world) to share their words, opinions, feelings and creativity.
PhotoVoice: Care Leavers in Focus
PhotoVoice discussed Care Leavers in Focus (CLiF), a 3-yr project that explores the perspectives of care-experienced young people to develop photo advocacy materials to inform and improve services
PhotoVoice Advocacy Workshop
PhotoVoice hosted a fun, interactive photography workshop exploring photographic storytelling and making your voice heard through photography.
Care About Care: Change For The Future
This event was the culmination of the Care about Care? Online festival. It consisted of a number of informal conversations, and the topics which were decided by the attendees.
2019 Care About Care?
October 2019, saw the inaugural Care About Care? event which took place to coincide with National Carers week and was held at Gosforth Civic Theatre.
The event showcased creative work by young people with experience of the care system as a celebration of their achievements but also as a stimulus for discussion and debate. The day featured performances from a wide variety of organisations, groups and artists and ended with a big conversation which was. facilitated using open space technology. There was no pre-set agenda or order of business, instead the conversation was set by the people who were in attendance and centred around the discussions that were urgent in that moment.
The 2019 programme included performances from:
Troupe - Curious Monkey’s group for young people with experience of the care system.
Plus One, Derby - A partnership between Derby Theatre, major arts organisations and care services across Derbyshire. A group for looked after children, care leavers (and their families) which gives families the chance to experience live performances, films, and take part in a host of exciting opportunities.
Dialectic Dee - A 21 year old spoken word artist from London, who aims to use the performing arts as a tool to positively impact change.
Astroknot - Edinburgh based rapper and spoken word artist bares their soul with heartfelt tales of injustices in the care system.
New Writing North - Young writers group for looked after children and young people in Gateshead.
Attendees had a chance to experience our Leaving360 film installation. A 13-minute immersive experience of leaving care told through the eyes of a young person via VR headsets.
Feedback from Care About Care? 2019
“What an inspiring, moving and grounding start to the conference. Incredible, honest and brave performance - they will stay with me for a long time. Thank you.”
— Jen Darlington, Blue Cabin
“Superb event. Really well played. The YP I brought had a lovely time. You can’t often say that when you take young people along to conferences. Felt like their voices were meaningfully placed at the centre.”
— Event Attendee
“I am in awe of your insight, your bravery and your confidence. It’s a real privilege to be here to share this experience with you - thank you for sharing.”
— Event Attendee
