Teesside University strengthening support for young people in care

Teesside University brought carers, social workers, educators and advocates together for its annual conference focused on supporting care-experienced young people.

More than 80 delegates from across the region, including representatives from local authorities, social work teams, schools, colleges and universities, attended the event to explore ways of improving outcomes for young people in care and care leavers.

The Raising Aspirations for Young People in Care conference provided a platform to share best practice, discuss emerging challenges and opportunities, and strengthen partnerships between organisations.

It featured hands-on workshops and panel discussions, as well as insightful keynotes from campaigners and founders Chris Wild and Mary-anne Hodd, who both have lived experience in care.

Chris is one of Big Issue’s 100 Changemakers of 2026: Politics and Activism.

His session introduced Foster Greatness UK, an emerging digital community platform created by and for people impacted by the care system. It is designed to provide ongoing connection, empowerment and practical support through education, employment and independent living.

Mary-anne delivered an interactive keynote on trauma-informed, strengths-based language in education settings, offering practical approaches to writing records that recognise context, build aspiration and create positive narratives for young people.

An overview of the dedicated support for care leavers available at Teesside University, including the Care Leaver Bursary and additional individual support, was also shared with attendees.

Dr Barry Saccone, Senior Student Success Tutor at Teesside University, went on to discuss doctoral research focused on care-experienced children and young people from the Tees Valley and highlight the critical role advocates play in raising aspirations and supporting successful transitions into adulthood.

Blue Cabin, a charity which supports care-experienced people to develop and strengthen relationships through creative activities, delivered a session exploring ways organisations can create meaningful opportunities for them to influence policy, practice and organisational culture.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Simpson, who delivered the opening address, said: "Our annual conference continues to bring together professionals from across education, social care and the wider support sector who share a commitment to improving outcomes for care-experienced young people.

"By working together, we can help remove barriers, raise aspirations and ensure that young people in care and care leavers are equipped with the support, opportunities and encouragement they need to succeed."

To find out more about the work Teesside University does to support care-experienced young people and for updates on similar events, please contact careleavers@tees.ac.uk.

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