On 7th October, the Haringey Education Achievement Awards were held in partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club to celebrate the educational successes of Haringey’s children in care aged 11-16. Not only did these young people get a fab night, a figurative high-five and the inspiration to continue their hard work, they also got a special Chateez-shaped gift in their goody bags. Thank you to the Haringey Virtual School team, who purchased a pocket-size Chateez pack for each of their 65 young people attending for them to use at their Looked-After Child Reviews and Personal Educational Plan Meetings to help them express their feelings to adults.

Desta Henry-Shaw, Educational Welfare Officer spoke about how they used the cards on the night,

‘Our Annual Awards event has been running partnership with Tottenham Hotspur for over 12 years. Such a longstanding event means I’m always looking for new innovative ways to engage my young people and provide them with tools and support that they can use throughout the remainder of the academic year. I introduced the cards by providing every attendee with a card to allow then to be actively involved with the event from start too finish. Selected children voted with their Chateez cards as to how they felt a particular part of the awards had done as the evening went on. This included their opinion on the food, entertainment  and speakers.

At the end of the event all attendees voted as to how they thought the overall awards went  – and it was lovely to see everybody holding up a chosen card. Chateez Cards makes things easier, the ability to pick a card or cards and express feelings which can initiate discussion , allow for a feeling to communicated with little or no words is brilliant.