The Families Matter Kinship Care team are raising funds to continue the excellent work achieved by our Peer Mentoring Programme throughout 2023. The programme brings together young people from across Glasgow with shared life experiences, and offers an opportunity to connect, learn and grow together, with the overall aim of improving their wellbeing. The programme culminates in a residential trip to Wiston Lodge where young people spend quality time together taking part in a variety of outdoor activities including rope climbing, canoeing and bushcraft designed to build confidence, self esteem and connections in a nurturing environment.

Some of the best days of my working life (and I’ve been around in the Health and Social care sector for 27 years!) have been shared with these exceptional young people.

To see them connect with others with a shared life experience is magical.

To hear them support, encourage and cheer each other on, is magical.

To see the worried expression of a wee girl turn visibly to sheer determination to push herself beyond what she thought she could achieve because of that encouragement, is beyond magical.

I have never laughed, cried, or loved my job as much as I have in the past 12 months.

These moments will be with me forever and for that I feel really privileged.