On the 27th February 2017, we ran a symposium at Northern Stage in partnership with Children North East following a performance of ‘Leaving’ by Paddy Campbell, where audience members had the opportunity to talk about the issues raised in the play. The audience on this occasion was an invited audience of social workers, young people, local authority staff, MPs and others who work with young people in care and care leavers. The discussion was led by a panel made up of two young people who have been involved in the project, writer Paddy Campbell and Director Amy Golding, joined by Head of North Tyneside’s Virtual School Jane Pickthall and Director of Children’s Services for Stockton Martin Gray, chaired by Caroline Beck.

Thanks to the People’s Post Code Lottery for their support of the symposium, and to Arts Council England, The Newcastle Culture Fund through the Tyne and Wear Community Foundation, The Pat Newman Memorial Trust, The D’Oyly Carte Foundation, The R W Mann Trust, The Funding Network, The Tyne and Wear Community Foundation and our partners Northern Stage, Children North East and Tyneside Mind.