Week Two at the The Madlug™ Pop Up Experience

Two Weeks of Impact, Connection & Community (10–21 November) 

For two weeks in November, ,10 Wellington Place became much more than a pop-up shop. Celebrating National Care Leavers Month, the space became a place for learning, listening, storytelling, creativity, and connection - all centred around one message: children and young people in care are incredible. 

From the moment the doors opened on 10th November to the final session on the 21st, the Madlug™ Pop Up Experience brought together businesses, community organisations, social workers, personal advisors, young people, and members of the public. Our mission was to explore how dignity can be restored and strengthened for care-experienced young people. 

Here’s a look back at everything that unfolded in week two. 

📅 Monday — Creative Comic Book Workshops 
We kicked off week two with a burst of creativity led by Dave Webb, renowned illustrator and comic book writer. Young people designed their own characters and story lines, learning from Dave’s expertise while exploring confidence, and self-expression through art and storytelling. 

📅 Tuesday — Financial Skills With Lloyds Banking Group 
Young people took part in a practical, accessible session focused on budgeting, banking, saving, and managing money. With guidance from Lloyds Banking Academy participants built confidence in navigating their financial futures. 

📅 Wednesday — The Power of Sport

Wednesday spotlighted the incredible work of Pro Alliance Sport, who are transforming access to sport for care-experienced young people. They shared their journey in developing a national football tournament designed for care-experienced young people. Their first tournament was held in Molineux Stadium, creating lifelong memories, confidence, and belonging through sport. 

Their vision is to expand the tournament into the North, Midlands and South of England. The session highlighted sport as a powerful tool for empowerment, connection, and opportunity. 

📅 Thursday — The Stories That Shape Us 
The Pop-Up hosted The Stories That Shape Us, a powerful session featuring Chris Wild and Kim Emenike, whose writing and advocacy continue to inspire readers. 

The session brought together conversations about writing, politics, identity, community, and the shared responsibility we all hold in supporting care-experienced young people. Chris reflected on the ongoing work of Foster Greatness UK, and the vision of creating a “Forever Home” for young people transitioning out of care. Kim Emenike shared insights from her own journey, highlighting the importance of storytelling as a tool for connection, understanding, and change.  

Together, Chris, Kim and Jonny emphasised unity and collaboration across the care community. Highlighting the belief that lasting change is possible when people come together with purpose, compassion, and a commitment to amplifying lived experience. 

📅 Friday — Employability Skills & Trauma-Informed Training 

The final day of the Pop-Up Experience brought two impactful sessions.  

In the morning, young people joined the Employability Skills Workshop with Lloyds Banking Group, where they received support with CV writing, interview preparation and workplace readiness.  

In the afternoon, the space welcomed Emmerline Irving from the West Yorkshire NHS Adversity, Trauma and Resilience Programme for an introduction to trauma-informed training.  

Em explored what it means to build cultures where people feel seen, valued, and able to thrive. She highlighted why this approach is vital for every workforce, especially when supporting those who may have experienced adversity.  

The Madlug™ Pop-Up Experience at 10 Wellington Place brought creativity, learning, and community together in a celebration of care-experienced young people. Over two weeks, participants explored new skills, shared their stories, and built confidence, while professionals and community members came together to support, listen, and connect. 

A huge thank you to Lloyds Banking Group, Fitout UK, Marketing and Technologies Group, Wellington Place, CBRE, Mitie, Marlowe, Eversheds, IKEA, Planteria, Gather & Gather, and Sociable Folk for making this experience possible. Your support helped create a space where young people feel value, worth and dignity.