Care Leavers Co-Creating Futures

Dorset October 2024 – February 2025

Eileen Haste and Angela Kennedy presenting the project with Alani Cook

Children and young people who end up in care often do so as a result of abuse and trauma. All of them have experienced significant attachment disruption, even those whose care order has been for bereavement of their carer. Then at age 18, care by the state stops and they make their own way to transition to independence sometimes with help from youth workers, mentors or local care leaver hubs.
Opera Circus helped to develop a small piece of work as part of a larger programme led by Dr Angela Kennedy from TICA (Trauma Informed Community Action). In her words:
“TICA is a new social enterprise based on an existing network. We are on a mission to transform collective wellbeing by adopting a trauma-informed approach that nurtures connection, healing, and growth. At the heart of our work is the belief that lived experiences of trauma and resilience should guide our efforts. Through systems thinking, compassionate leadership, and appreciative inquiry, we aim to create environments that empower and uplift individuals and communities.
We collaborate to address today’s personal, organizational, and societal challenges by co-creating innovative frameworks, delivering impactful projects, and fostering network-based learning. Our approach combines research, mentorship, creativity, and events to promote positive growth, prevent harm, and support justice. Together, we are building a future where adversity is met with resilience, and healing that leads to transformation.”
Creating the art work at the Yellow Room in the Union Chapel, Bridport
Creating the art work at the Yellow Room in the Union Chapel, Bridport
Part of the exhibition shown at the TICA conference Oxford Town Hall
Part of the exhibition shown at the TICA conference Oxford Town Hall
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Funded by Health England, we held a creative workshop with young care leavers in Dorset, using art to explore what matters most to them about mental health. This resulted in a powerful piece of artwork, made with help from local community artist Eileen Haste, community artist in Bridport, Dorset.

The work was shown during Care Leaver’s week at the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery as part of a shared exhibition, We All Bloom Differently. Subsequently, it was shown at the TICA Trauma Informed Conference 2025 at Oxford Town Hall.

A full report of the project can be found here.

Robert Golden created a short documentary on the day of the workshop which can be seen here.

Tina Ellen Lee, Opera Circus’ Artistic Director shared a few thoughts.
“Over 25 years ago, for family reasons, I came to live in Bridport Dorset from a life lived in the centre of London. Opera Circus started in 1991 and was based in the city for the first 12 years of it’s vital and irreverent life. Moving to a rural town and county brought so many benefits in term of understanding England, my country, and my work, both as an artist and producer. The many strands of our class system so visible. Rural poverty wasn’t just something to read about, but to deeply understand and then try and work alongside those parts of the community interested, in particular children and young people.

The beauty of creating a process like the Care Leavers work was to understand the depth and support from local partners, the interest from artists and young people to participate, to help, and the new connections and possible long-term progress that can be made, however modest. It’s always step by step. One day, the funders will catch up and understand that community change takes at least ten years before it becomes owned by those who can deliver it, the community themselves”.
We intend to have a follow up day or webinar in Dorset with all those who supported and participated in the process. Please email admin@operacircus.co.uk, if interested to attend with “Care Leavers Project” in the subject line.

Thank you to everyone involved, in particular for the work of Lilly Markwell and Qasim at Dorset Youth.