We are proud to announce that we have signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant – a promise made by the private, public and voluntary sectors to provide support for care leavers aged 16-25 to help them live independently. Our first action as part of the Care Leaver Covenant has been to offer insight days and work experience to those leaving care. 

Commenting on signing LocatED up to the Care Leaver Covenant, our Chief Executive, Lara Newman said, “I am a firm believer in doing everything possible to ensure that young people from all walks of life are given a fair chance to find and pursue a career of their choice. While finding an opportunity can be challenging enough for most young people, the hurdles faced by those who have left the care system are even greater. This is why we have signed up to the Care Leavers Covenant and are creating work experience and insight days specifically targeted at those who need it most.” 

In all, there are around 70,000 children who are in care, the majority of whom are fostered. The most recent figures available show that 40 percent of care leavers aged 19-21 were not in employment, education or training compared to just 14 percent of all 19-21 year-olds. 

We have already begun promoting opportunities at LocatED for Care Leavers via the Care Leaver Covenant Website and the CLC app. The app connects care leavers with special offers and opportunities nationwide and gives them information on how to apply. 

The covenant aims to achieve five outcomes. Namely that care leavers are better prepared and supported to live independently; have improved access to employment, education and training; they experience stability in their lives and feel safe and secure; have improved access to health and emotional support; achieve financial stability. 

The Care Leaver Covenant was launched in 2018 and is funded by the Department for Education and delivered by Diversity & Inclusion specialists, Spectra.