Inspired Youth http://www.inspiredyouth.org/ an organisation striving to make a positive impact in communities by engagement, challenge, education and inspiration aim to empower marginalised people and have produced this exceptional video alongside the springboard project, http://www.foundationuk.org/SpringboardProject.html which is specifically aimed at supporting young people leaving care (aged 16-24) living in York, Selby and Ryedale to identify and reach their goals and aspirations through promoting independence and self-confidence and enabling better access to education, training and employment opportunities. The project is funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Youth in Focus programme.

inspired youthspringboard projectbig lottery fund

 

The creation of the music video has provided the opportunity to learn practical skills related to music and video production but also more importantly it has given the project’s young people a voice which isn’t always heard to express their experiences of care and to promote a message of hope and optimism for the future to inspire other young people who may have had difficulties in their lives.

This care leaver’s viewpoint gives Foster carers an insight into some of the thoughts, feelings and emotions the children and young people they are working with may be experiencing and this in turn will help Foster carers to enable them to develop and flourish.

We need to recognise the potential of the children we have in care. It is not just about providing a safe environment. The young people that come into care have so many different emotions that are sometimes not recognised as the care system is often firefighting and the priority is to safeguard their welfare first.

Not all experiences in care are bad and the message incorporated in the video confirms the resilience of young people and encourages the focus on looking at life with a glass half full not half empty and that the care system is not easy but can offer hope and inspiration to succeed.   

If you want a copy the track is released 29th April 2014 (itunes)