By Matt Dodd
My name is Matt, and I’m a Leaving Care Content Creator Apprentice. My main role as a Content Creator is to work on the social media, I make posts for our Instagram and Facebook accounts.
My goal now is to make as many Care Leavers aware of all they are intitled to while being in the care system such as making content that shows what they may not know otherwise, for example PureGym is currently giving a 50% discount to care leavers but didn’t promote it at all, so with these sorts of things I feel they should be advertised as much as possible because I would want to know them too. I’ve also helped plan events with the council, for example we did an art exhibition in Taunton library where around 30 care leavers let us show off their art and talents to the public on Christmas 2022 and had another event this Christmas where we held a winter warmer.
My other main duty as a Leaving Care Worker is, to update and improve our website with information about the leaving care workers you could be working with in the team as a care leaver, everything you need to know about your entitlements, and I update the front page with information about what plans we have for events or even just what the apprentices are up to. I also update it with upcoming events and offers that should be taken advantage of by as many people as possible!
At the moment I’ve been working with the Engagement and Participation team and SiCC & SLCC, they have been teaching me different art styles I can use to create more engaging content. firstly, I learned stencil cutting/spray painting and I’m working towards being able to animate and learn as many different styles as possible to make my content as good as it can be. They have helped me a ton in a short amount of time and really helped me pursue my passion of content creation, I feel a lot more adept with social media and I can’t wait to see what comes next with the team.