{"id":311,"date":"2025-10-27T08:52:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.qualifications.gov.scot\/features\/?p=311"},"modified":"2025-10-27T10:18:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T10:18:53","slug":"empowering-learners-this-care-experienced-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.qualifications.gov.scot\/features\/empowering-learners-this-care-experienced-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering learners this Care Experienced Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Care Experienced Week is a time to celebrate the care experienced community. This year\u2019s theme is rights<\/strong> – recognising the importance of ensuring care experienced people are valued, heard and supported to succeed.<\/p>\n

Our visit to the Haus of Seisay <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Myself, alongside SQA Chief Executive Nick Page, and SQA Regional Manager Maureen Wallace, were delighted to have the opportunity to visit Haus of Seisay<\/a>, a Paisley-based hairdressing academy which was established in 2022 by adoptive parents Thomas and Tony Seisay.<\/p>\n

Haus Of Seisay is a charity that strives to provide career opportunities in hairdressing for care experienced young people. Their vision is a world where stigma surrounding care experience is eradicated, replaced by an environment that fosters understanding, support, and equal opportunities.<\/p>\n

Thomas and Tony Seisay are creating opportunities and empowering care experienced young people \u2014 it was amazing to meet their learners and learn about the work they do.<\/p>\n

Following the visit Thomas said: \u201cIt was great to have Nick, Joanne, and Maureen from SQA visit Haus of Seisay! It was amazing to share just how talented our care experienced young people are \u2014 this is exactly how we break down stigma.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a jam-packed morning full of learning, sharing, and celebrating positive stories from our care experienced communities. The visit highlighted what we already know: Haus of Seisay is full of creativity, potential, and bright futures.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am extremely passionate about Haus of Seisay and understand that my own children\u2019s outcomes could have been so different. I want to make a positive change for young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s equalise opportunities for care experienced young people.\u201d<\/p>\n

SQA Chief Executive Nick Page said: \u201cWhat an inspirational and powerful approach to helping our learners develop their skills and employability through real top end hairdressing. What was as striking was the confidence, openness and enthusiasm the team and our learners had for what they were learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maureen Wallace, SQA Regional Manager for Dumfries & Galloway, and North, South & East Ayrshire, added: \u201cI felt very honoured to have had my hair analysed, treated, and styled by such a talented young person. Thomas, Tony and I were delighted that Nick got to see first-hand all the creativity and potential in the young people at Haus of Seisay.\u00a0 We wish them every success!\u201d<\/p>\n

As a Corporate Parent, SQA understands the unique support some care experienced people may need, and that they may find the commitment to undertaking a qualification overwhelming. For this reason, SQA has enabled Haus of Seisay, and other businesses, to enter care experienced candidates on a unit-by-unit basis (rather than for the full qualification), at no additional charge.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a business and would like to find out more, please email maureen.wallace@sqa.org.uk.<\/p>\n

Thanks again to the team at Haus of Seisay for the opportunity to visit. What a fantastic morning!<\/p>\n

The National House Project (NHP) <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"The NHP is a UK-based charity dedicated to helping young people transition out of the care system by supporting them in setting up their own homes and leading connected and fulfilled lives. This is achieved through the set-up and development of Local House Projects (LHPs), which sees care experienced young people receive practical support to move into their own home, and helps them develop the essential skills and relationships needed to live both independently and as part of their wider community.<\/p>\n

In 2023, NHP worked in partnership with SQA to develop a customised award, which young people achieve on completion of the House Project Programme (HPP). Care experienced young people from Midlothian, East Dunbartonshire, and Fife began their HPP journey that same year.<\/p>\n

Kelly Mottram, Director of Practice at NHP, said: \u201cAt NHP, we are delighted that young people leaving care in Scotland can access SQA customised award certification upon completion of HPP. Gaining certification recognises the hard work and commitment they\u2019ve shown as they prepare to move into their own homes. Supporting care experienced young people to lead the way in shaping their own lives is at the heart of everything we do at NHP.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was important for us to introduce certification through SQA after young people who are part of the House Project community in Scotland told us they wanted certification that held real merit and meaning for them. We are grateful to SQA for their support in developing this award.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

Care experience as a protected characteristic<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We treat care experience as a protected characteristic. This means recognising the unique experiences and challenges care experienced people can face \u2014 and making sure our policies promote fairness, equality and understanding.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re committed to:<\/p>\n