Comment: Secretary of State announces support for care leavers

Commenting on investment and programmes to improve support for care leavers Jenny Coles, ADCS Vice President, said:

“Young people leaving care have to start living independently and navigating adulthood much earlier than their peers and may not have the family or support network to help them. Councils are doing lots of things to support care leavers from council tax exemptions to creating apprenticeships to support them into employment. The investment and programmes announced today will help to make a difference in the lives of our care leavers, the creation of a Care Leaver Covenant Board will helpfully bring a national cross government focus to the issues affecting care leavers. Initiatives such as Staying Put and Staying Close are welcome and help to prepare young people for independence, however, there is currently a shortage of foster carers and more children coming into care, so our need for carers continues to grow. A national foster carer recruitment strategy would undoubtably help with this. “

ENDS

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