After two years of being overshadowed by COVID restrictions, Slough Children First (SCF) were finally able to celebrate their looked after children and care leavers, at a celebration event on 30 May.
The event, which celebrated the achievements of SCF’s children in care and care leavers over the past year, was attended by the children and young people, their carers, support workers, SCF’s staff and board members, and officials from Slough Borough Council.
Before COVID, SCF hosted an awards style event which were held annually, for looked after children and care leavers.
This year’s Celebration Fun Day included a combination of fun activities for all ages including film production, singing from Slough Music Service, a coconut shy, street dance, henna and face painting and an awards ceremony presented by SCF’s Director of Operations – Carol Douch, Reshma Bessesar – Head of Service: Children Looked After (CLA) and Support Service, Councillor Christine Hulme – Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Lifelong Learning & Skills and Tony Hunter – chair of SCF board to round off the day.
“It was truly amazing to have an opportunity to celebrate the many achievements of our children in care and care leavers, and we are truly proud of every single one of them as their corporate parents. The event was different from previous years but it was certainly enjoyed by the children and young people who attended. We are aiming to have such an event annually and we are much looking forward to the one we are going to have next year.” Reshma Bessesar – Head of Service: CLA and Support Service at Slough Children First said.
Despite the pandemic, Slough’s CLA continued to perform well academically despite disruptions to education for all children. This success continues to be achieved as a result of a strong and effective Virtual School which is held in high regard by school leaders and foster carers. (2020/21 annual report).
Through hard work and dedication, one of our care leavers, who has been working diligently as a student athlete at the NFL academy, has landed an opportunity to travel to America in the hopes of landing a division 1 American Football scholarship.
Despite the hardships that many of us are facing, over £7,800 was raised for the event which is truly appreciated. Slough Children First would like to thank all who supported/came to it. This includes:
- Mattel: For a donation of toys
- Jardine Motors Group Slough; Berkeley Group; Slough Central/British Land; Segro and Home Slough Services: for financial contributions for the event
- Traditions Catering: Catering for the event
- The Orangery Restaurant; The Sikh Temple and The Mithai Box: for food donations
- Ryan Norfor: for the DJing and stage décor
- MBS Ambulance; Slough Fire Station and Jardine Motors Group Slough for the availability of vehicles of display
- Slough CVS for the provision of volunteers
- Slough Creative Academy; Nina Rajarani Dance Creations; Resource Productions, Antz Kidz; Slough Hub; Bezerkaz Circus; Cameron’s Event Entertainment; Slough Library Services; Basil & Crew Mobile Farm; Osbourne; Active Slough; Chalvey Can and Slough Music Service for various activities and workshops
- Slough and Eton Church Of England Business & Enterprise College: for allowing us to use their premises for the event
