The City of Wolverhampton Council has helped over 270 young people make the move out of care to independent living in the last year, and those who are about to make, or have recently made, the move will be taking part in a range of activities next week to highlight their progress.
This week includes attending the launch the ICC in Birmingham of the National Care Leaver Covenant - a promise, set out in law, to everyone who has been through the care system - which local care leavers have been heavily involved in developing, and taking part in the National Care Leaver Bench Marking Forum, which brings together more than 80 council care leaving services, where care leavers from Wolverhampton will showcase the good work being done to support local young asylum seekers.
They will also be taking part in workshops about going to university, apprenticeships and sexual health, and enjoying a trip to AirSpace in Wednesfield and sports and bake off sessions with the Transitions Team.
Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Supporting care leavers is a key priority for the council; young people in care have often had a very difficult start to their lives, so it's important that we give them the help they need to make the transition into adulthood.
"Our care leavers are making really good progress, and Care Leavers Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their achievements on a local and national stage as they begin their journey into adulthood."
National Care Leavers Week seeks to highlight the needs of care leavers, and encouraging the agencies responsible for looking after them to work in a coordinated and effective way.
The week is also about focussing the minds of politicians on the support needed for these vulnerable individuals and raising public awareness about an invisible minority who face a particular set of challenges as they enter adult life.
- The council will shortly be officially launching its Local Offer for care leavers aged between 16 and 25, which provides information about a wide range of services which could help them prepare for adult life. The Local Offer was developed in partnership with care leavers and includes details of support which they are entitled to by law, as well as additional services that the council has been able to secure with the help of partner organisations. For more information, please visit Type=links;Linkid=11169;Title=Wolverhampton Information Network - Care Leavers Offer;Target=_blank;.
released: Friday 19 October, 2018