From Care leaver to Peer Educator, this is Tora’s story
During this year’s National Care Leavers’ Week we’re celebrating Tora, a care leaver from Higher Bebington who has become a Peer Educator helping other young people.
Despite not having a ‘typical’ upbringing, Tora is thriving and has turned her love for performing into a voluntary role promoting inclusivity.
National Care Leavers’ Week, which runs from Monday 28 October – Sunday 3 November is an opportunity to amplify care leavers’ voices, and shine a light on their achievements.
Tora, a care leaver from Higher Bebington, exemplifies everything that care leavers week is all about.
Tora moved in with her foster carer Lesley when she was 10 years old. She slotted straight into Lesley’s family and would enjoy cinema trips and holidays with them. Tora, a natural performer, threw herself into her passions of drama and dance with the support of Lesley and the Council’s Creative Youth Development Team.
Tora said:
I go to Pilgrim St [arts centre] three times a week, I’ve been going for about 10 years.
I’ve always loved performing and communicating my feelings by turning words into dance. Over the years I’ve met lots of other young people, some like me and some from all sorts of backgrounds.
Tora has mobility issues and learning difficulties that would make living on her own difficult.
When Tora turned 18 earlier this year, she moved from foster care to Shared Lives – a council service that matches carers with adults who need support. For Tora this meant she was able to stay with Lesley as she transitioned from children’s to adult services – navigating all of this as a care leaver.
For Tora, the move from children’s to adult’s services was smooth.
Tora said:
Moving from foster care to Shared Lives didn’t make much of a difference to me – as I was able to just stay with Lesley. But I was moving into adult services, which for me meant different social workers and other challenges.
I met my new social workers when I was 17 and it was nice to build up a relationship with them before I turned 18. Of course there were some teething problems, as with any big change, but there was no gap where the support stopped. It was consistent.
Now a young adult, Tora is reflecting on her journey from being a care leaver to her role as part of the SEND youth voice group.
Tora said:
I love being part of the SEND youth voice group. Our aim is to promote the voices and needs of SEND young people in Wirral. I get to go to a lot of different groups, meet new people and meet with the Council to share our views.”
Now I don’t just take part in the sessions, I help out too, supporting others, mentoring, offering ideas. We do everything from ballroom to break dance, it’s a lot of fun.
Pilgrim St is all about inclusivity, no right, no wrong. No limits or barriers.
I want to make sure that people feel great about themselves and feel included.
I’m still involved in the dances but I’m also sitting and watching, seeing how I can help people improve.
From foster care to Shared Lives, there is support for young people and young adults in Wirral who need it.
To learn more about fostering visit Foster4 – Foster carer recruitment service | Cheshire and Merseyside Homepage.
To learn more about Shared Lives visit Shared Lives | wirral.gov.uk.
