Today marks the start of National Care Leavers Week (Wednesday 25 October to 1 November 2023), which is an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of care-experienced young people and raise awareness of support and opportunities on offer.
We know life as a care leaver can be hard. Without the safety nets so many of us take for granted, such as parental support, everyday living can be a struggle when faced with barriers most people never encounter.
As a society, we consistently expect our most vulnerable young people to be able to live without support at a much earlier age than their peers – at a time when their peers are relying on parental support for longer. Following difficult and disrupted childhoods, most with experience of trauma and abuse, many care leavers find themselves thrust into the adult world before they are ready.
Undoubtedly, a large proportion of young people leave their care setting poorly prepared for independence. Typically, they lack the appropriate resources to acquire and hold down gainful employment, as well as the skills needed to manage their financial affairs and domestic arrangements. They frequently do not have the social and emotional confidence, nor the family and friendship network, to problem solve and face the challenges of owning a home and sustaining their wellbeing.
Greater Manchester Housing Providers (GMHP) Care Leavers Pledges
Alongside the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and GMHP partners, we’ve pledged to provide opportunities for young people leaving care.
We aim to make sure that young people leaving care have access to quality, stable homes, alongside employment and skills opportunities, mentoring, and wider support in the transition from care to living independently. Support care leavers receive includes advice on money management, repairs, rights advice, and life skills.
We want to acknowledge our role in supporting care leavers, preventing homelessness and providing valuable life skills to help them succeed. Over the next four days, we’ll be sharing information so that you can identify how you too can make a real and tangible difference.
What’s coming up:
Thursday – Who are care leavers, understand their needs and why we need to do more.
Friday – How do we meet the GMHP Care Leaver pledges now?
Monday – Our Education, training and employment offer to Care Leavers and the help available.
Tuesday – What’s next?
