When the Timeout Foundation held a national writing competition for children and young people in care, one young person in particular from northerncare, Scott, was very keen to get involved. The competition was for the young people to write a story, a diary or a poem of up to 1500 words about their positive experience of life in care. The Foundation offered 3 prizes of £500 for the best entries, allocated by age grouping.

Scott, from northerncare’s home The Cedars, based in The Midlands, submitted a poem about his time in care before and after he arrived at The Cedars and all the staff and young people were on tenterhooks waiting for the results. With over 100 entrants from around the country, Scott and northerncare were overjoyed when he made the final 12 and then was announced as a winner on 8th May 2009.

Scott has since attended the Timeout Foundation Summer Ball and Awards Ceremony at the Midland Hotel, Manchester on 13th June 2009, along with guests from northerncare who were there to cheer him on as he received his award. As part of the successful evening’s entertainment, the event included Chico from X-Factor and the actress Suranne Jones, who, until recently, was one of the stars of Coronation Street. There was also an auction held and all the prize winners have the chance to go on a pleasure flight and Scott will be enjoying with his girlfriend a meal in the Midland Hotel’s renowned French restaurant courtesy of northerncare.

The Timeout Foundation has as its main purpose the promoting of the interests of young people in looked after care. The Foundation has announced its plan to sponsor up to 8 young people for places on the mentoring scheme at Mango House in Goa, India planned for September 2010. Mango House is part of the charity founded in 2004 (Children Walking Tall) that is dedicated to helping slum and street children in India. They provide food, shelter, medical care and education for some of the poorest children in India. More information about the work they do can be found on www.childrenwalkingtall.com. northerncare will be encouraging the young people in our care that are eligible for places to apply.

Having reached the age of 16, Scott has recently left The Cedars and moved to supported living in Chelmsford. We at northerncare will miss him a great deal, but he is in regular contact with the Home Manager and staff at The Cedars so we will still be part of his life. He plans to spend his winnings on a holiday for himself and his girlfriend. You can read Scott’s winning entry in the Achievements section of our website under Poetry; a wonderful read, and we have yet to meet anyone who hasn’t been moved by Scott’s words.