Care leavers past and present from the Falkirk Council area will reunite to celebrate their achievements.

Falkirk Care Leavers Reunion will take place on Thursday 30 October from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at The Studio in Falkirk Town Hall.

The event will see Commonwealth Games Judo gold-winning medallists Andy Burns and Sarah Clark join care leavers to offer their support. They met Falkirk based care leaver Adele Stewart while she was a Clydesider at the Glasgow Games earlier this year.

Adele said: “The Leaving Care team have given me emotional and practical support and helped me move into my own tenancy.

“I can’t explain how proud I was to be a volunteer at the Games, but I couldn’t have done it without the staff at Leaving Care.”

Other guests include agencies supporting care leavers such as Columba 1400, AXIS and Who Cares? Scotland. Social workers and Provost Pat Reid will also attend.

The event has been organised by Falkirk Council’s Leaving Care team as part of National Care Leavers Week, which aims to highlight the needs of care leavers, raise public awareness and encourage cooperation between the agencies looking after them.

Cllr Linda Gow, spokesperson for Health and Social Care said: “This celebration comes during the tenth year of our leaving care service, which has helped thousands of local people in its time.

“It is important for care leavers to be well supported and have a chance to celebrate all they have achieved after a challenging start to life.”

As well as Adele, other successful care leavers have gone on to secure Falkirk Council’s Employability Award.

If you or anyone you know is a care leaver interested in going to this event, please contact the Leaving Care Office on 01324 501050.