News

CLASS

Back in the summer SCLU were asked by the Leaving Care Service if they had any ideas about a care leavers celebration event could look like. SCLU came up with the idea of the Care Leavers’ Art Show Sheffield or CLASS for short. The idea was that care leavers could produce artwork of any kind to exhibit on the night and then come to a party to celebrate their achievements. It was decided that the event would take place on 30th November at the Showroom Workstations.

Before the event lots of care leavers were busy making artwork including photographs, canvas work, graffiti and poetry and this was showcased at the venue. Some of the professionals who attended the event said the upstairs of the venue looked like a real art gallery!! On the night lots of people performed including Sarah on the Piano and Mitchell and Callum who rapped.

The event featured a chocolate fountain, racing mountain bikes and even a VR Showboarding Machine. Care leavers took part in some live graffiti work and also made candle holders to take home. There was also an amazing raffle with prizes donated from Sheffield City Council staff and local businesses, the top prize being a Samsung Tablet!

Overall the night was a huge success and there was some amazing feedback including one young person saying “It was the best night of my life!”. We also had another care leaver who said that after a difficult year, she wasn’t sure whether she could leave the house but decided to come to CLASS and felt so much better for it.

CLASS is now going to take place annually and will be part of a year round programme of events offered by the Leaving Care Service to all Sheffield care leavers. The next event is "Choc-fest" which will take place in the spring.....what this space for updates!