On Friday 9 October, more than 120 children, young people, carers and supporters came together at Inflatebounce in Huntingdon to celebrate the achievements of Cambridgeshire's children in care.
The annual Children in Care Celebration and Awards is an opportunity for Cambridgeshire County Council to recognise and celebrate the successes, talents and achievements of children and young people in its care.
As corporate parent, the council has a responsibility to support both children in care and care leavers, helping them to be healthy, safe and able to thrive. This includes safeguarding their wellbeing, championing their interests, and working closely with partners to ensure they can access the support, services and opportunities they need for the best possible start in life.
The council's commitment extends beyond its statutory duties. Through events such as the celebration and awards, it seeks to ensure that every child and young person in its care feels valued, recognised and supported, while celebrating the resilience, determination and accomplishments that make each of them unique.
Ahead of the celebration, staff and carers submitted more than 600 award nominations, highlighting the remarkable achievements of over 440 Cambridgeshire children in care. The nominations recognised everything from academic success and personal growth to acts of kindness, resilience and determination. Together, they paint a picture of a group of young people whose talent, resilience and ambition continue to inspire those around them.
Councillor Jonny Edge, Vice-Chair of the Children and Young People Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “These awards have been a wonderful opportunity to spend time with our children and young people in care, hear their experiences and celebrate their achievements. As corporate parents, we are deeply committed to ensuring every child in our care has the support, encouragement and opportunities they need to flourish.
“These celebrations reflect our wider ambition to ensure fairness and opportunity wherever we can and give every child the best possible start in life, regardless of circumstances. We want our children and young people to feel valued, recognised for their individuality and confident about the future. To everyone who received a certificate this year, congratulations – your achievements, resilience and determination are an inspiration to us all.”
Councillor Tom Sanderson, Vice-Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council, also in attendance, said: “Our ambition of ensuring fairness in Cambridgeshire starts with ensuring our children and young people in care have the support, encouragement and opportunities they need to achieve their goals. This event is a celebration of the achievements of our children in care and a reminder of our commitment to helping them thrive.”
Martin Purbrick, Executive Director for Children, Young People and Families, at Cambridgeshire County Council, added: “Reading the 600 nominations was both inspiring and humbling. They spoke of young people who are brave, resilient, caring and determined, often overcoming significant challenges along the way.
“These awards are about celebrating their achievements and recognising everything they have accomplished. We are immensely proud of them all and look forward to seeing what they achieve next, with our support every step of the way.”
