SCIE media releases 2005

Care leavers and celebrities in catwalk protest

27 October 2005

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), Barnardo's and Tate Britain have joined to support A National Voice's third catwalk fashion show on 27 October for its 'This is not a suitcase' campaign.

The campaign, which A National Voice has been running for the past two years, is a protest against the practice of using bin bags to move children's belongings with them from home to home and when they leave care.

Already the campaign has had considerable success with more than 60 social services departments signing up to provide the children in their care with suitcases.

The third catwalk fashion show will be hosted by SCIE, Barnardo's and Tate Britain (where the show will be held) and a number of celebrities and charity chief executives will model outfits made from bin bags.

Andrea McLean, presenter on GMTV; Louise Brady, 'Mechaniballs' presenter on BBC2; Anjula Mutanda, psychologist on 'This morning' on ITV1; Channel 4's 'A Place in the Sun' presenter Amanda Lamb; and Lara Lewington, Channel 5 weather presenter, will model outfits, as will chief executives from major UK charities, such as Clare Tickell from NCH and Felicity Collier from BAAF.

The outfits have been designed by well-known designers and artists such as Frank Usher and Abigail Fallis. Students at the London College of Fashion have also worked hard on producing the bin bag clothing. The artist Gavin Turk will also be attending the event and DJ-ing.

A number of high-profile policy makers and opinion formers will attend the fashion show including Lord Laming, who was chairman of the Victoria Climbié inquiry.

National Coordinator of A National Voice and care leaver, Maxine Wrigley, MBE, said:

"We have already had some considerable success with this campaign, but there are still a lot more local authorities who are yet to sign up to the 'No bin bag' charter. It is absolutely unacceptable that children and young people are moved between care placement with only a bin bag to carry their belongings. We must treat these children in the same way we would wish to be treated - with respect. We must show them that we do not think they are rubbish - providing them with suitcases is a simple and inexpensive way we can do this."

To get a copy of A National Voice's 'No bin bag' charter or for more info please contact info@anationalvoice.org or visit www.anationalvoice.org.

Media contacts

Margaret Lynch | Public Relations and Media Manager | SCIE | T: 020 7089 6858 | M: 07834 194 896 | Email: media@scie.org.uk

Annie Goss | Communications Officer| SCIE | T: 020 7089 7117 | Email: annie.goss@scie.org.uk

Maxine Wrigley | National Coordinator | A National Voice | T: 07736 501230 | Email: maxinew@anationalvoice.org

Notes to editors

• Taking part in the catwalk show are the chief executives of National Children's Bureau, NCH, BAAF, Rainer, Shaftesbury and Voice of the Child in Care. Senior managers from the Fostering Network and the Princes Trust will also model, along with two directors of children's services from Harrow and Southampton Councils, the lead councillor with responsibility for children at Ealing, and 15 care leavers.
• A National Voice is an organisation run by and for care experienced young people. To get a copy of the 'No bin bag' charter or for more information about A National Voice, visit www.anationalvoice.org
• The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) was launched in October 2001 as part of the Government's drive to improve social care. It is an independent registered charity, governed by a board of trustees. Its role is to develop and promote knowledge about good practice in social care across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Barnardo's works with the most vulnerable children and young people, helping them transform their lives and fulfil their potential. It is the UK 's leading children's charity, supporting 100,000 children and their families through 361 services in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit www.barnardos.org.uk.
• Tate Britain is the national gallery of British art. Located in London, it is one of the family of four Tate galleries which display selections from the Tate Collection. The other three galleries are Tate Modern, also in London, Tate Liverpool, in the north-west, and Tate St Ives, in Cornwall, in the south-west. The entire Tate Collection is available online. For more information visit www.tate.org.uk.