The City of Wolverhampton Council was praised at the finals of this year’s Children & Young People Now Awards.

It was shortlisted in 5 categories, with 5 services and one young person all given national recognition at the event on Thursday night (24 November).

Its Reach Leaving Care and Support Accommodation teams were shortlisted in the Leaving Care Award, while the Partnership Exploitation and Missing Hub was a finalist in the Safeguarding Award category.

Wolverhampton's Youth Offending Team's Divert programme was shortlisted for the Youth Justice Award, while the Co-production Team and the Reach Leaving Care Team, for the second time, were shortlisted in the Public Sector Children's Team category. Finally, Kye Barton was a finalist in the Children's Achievement Award category.

Councillor Beverley Momenabadi, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "As a council, we place the utmost importance on ensuring our children and young people have the best possible start in life.

"So I am incredibly proud that we were shortlisted in no less than 5 categories at this year's Children and Young People Now Awards – with 5 services and one young person all given the national recognition they so richly deserve.

“Although we did not win, just to be shortlisted was a massive achievement in itself, and I would like to say a huge well done to everyone involved.”

The Reach Team was formed specifically to work with care leavers and support them with their transition into independence. 

The Supported Accommodation Team offers a range of accommodation options to young people in care and leaving care via its well established Housing Support Service, including the House Project, Supported Lodgings Service and a Mentoring Service.

The Partnership Exploitation and Missing Hub was developed to reach children and young people at risk of exploitation and includes representation from the council, police, health providers and third sector partners.

The Divert Project promotes the diversion of young people away from the criminal justice system, providing a multi agency approach to agree appropriate outcomes for young people referred to it.

The Co-production Team works with young people to enable them to lead healthy and happy lives, with a focus on mental health and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, care leaver Kye is currently completing a council apprenticeship to support vulnerable families in the community and delivers Total Respect training to professionals to raise awareness of issues facing care leavers, and the best way to support them.