Bridlington Spa will be lit up blue to highlight National Care Leavers’ Week.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is shining a light on National Care Leavers’ Week runs 28 October to 3 November, and Bridlington Spa will be lit up blue in recognition of care leavers.
The council wants to highlight how people, organisations and communities can all help care leavers – young people aged 16 to 25 who have been in local authority care.
Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education said: “The council’s role as a corporate parent is to ensure that young people who are leaving care are supported, and that we deliver the best for them.
“By lighting up Bridlington Spa in blue, we are hoping to make people think about whether they can be a part of helping a care leaver. It is a collective effort and businesses and communities can all help create opportunities for those leaving care. I’d like people to consider if they can offer an apprenticeship, work experience or job opportunities. These can make a really positive impact on a young person’s future.
“Care Leavers’ Week is also a chance to celebrate those who are care experienced and challenge the stigma which can exist.”
Lily is a young person who grew up in foster care. She has gone on to gain 11 GCSEs, 3 A-levels and she is now studying pharmacy at university. She said: “When I tell people that I am a foster child there a lot of preformed stereotypes that come along with that, but I am an example that we don’t have to fit into the stereotypes we are given as foster children.
“One of my proudest achievements to date is being the care leaver representative on the virtual school governance panel, which I have been a part of since I was in year 11. This means that I sit in on meetings to discuss how people in care are doing in education. I help to provide the insight of a child that has experienced education whilst being in care, this will help the future generations of children in care. Every negative and positive thing that has happened, has moulded me into who I am.”
Tim and Wendy decided to offer supported lodgings following retirement and when their own children had left home. They said: “We’ve helped the young people with healthcare and education and finding part-time jobs. It’s been really fulfilling for us as well as the kids. We’ve had a lot of laughs and we know its been a benefit to the children.”
Lillie, who is care experienced said: “I lived in supported lodgings when I turned 20 and they were the best carers ever, and I couldn’t have thanked them more. I’ve been living on my own for the last six months, working full time and I’m hopefully going to join the Police.
“What i’d say to people is don’t treat us like the care child that you think you know, and you have in your head, because we are all very different. We just want help to get to the next place.”
The council has a Local Offer for Care Leavers including help with:
- Accommodation: ensuring care leavers have appropriate accommodation, discretionary assistance as a guarantor in privately rented accommodation, a discretionary one-off rent and deposit payment to help secure private rented accommodation, Setting Up Home grant of up to £3000.
- Studying and finding work: support with education, employment or training, a bursary for those care leavers going to higher education, help accessing apprenticeships including apprenticeship schemes within the council, job seeking and interview preparation, including financial assistance with interview clothes.
- Finances: Financial advice and support, council tax exemption if living in the East Riding and free bus travel on public transport.
- Health and wellbeing: Help to register with a GP, free prescriptions, accessing local health and support services, advice on healthy living from cooking to mental health, and free access to East Riding Leisure Centres.
- Supporting relationships and participation in the local community: helping maintain or regain contact with people and support in making relationships in the community.
Find out more about the Local Offer for Care Leavers here.
Councillor Victoria Aitken continued: “The children that leave care in the East Riding do so with some of the best results and most positive life plans in the country. However, we continue to improve the support we provide and involving care experienced young people in this work is a vital part of that.
“We have listened to the experiences, voices and feedback from children and young people to ensure they are safeguarded, happy and well looked after, encouraging them to achieve, be confident and independent so they can succeed and thrive in life. We are now taking the wider council on this journey with us to further improve our role as corporate parent.”
Read the Council’s Corporate Parenting Strategy 2024-27 here.
The Pathways Team supports care leavers and can be contacted on (01482) 396666, by drop in at Pathway Team, Manor Road Offices, Ground Floor Manor Road, Beverley HU17 7BT, or email pathway.admin@eastriding.gov.uk
If you are able to support a young person with supported lodgings – providing a safe and supportive environment, working alongside professional services to help and support the young person in gaining skills for independent adult life please get in touch with the Pathways Team.
Any organisation or business who can help a care leaver with an apprenticeship, work experience or job opportunities can contact: pathway.admin@eastriding.gov.uk
If you are interested in being a foster carer, telephone 01482 394095, email fosteringrecuitment@eastriding.gov.uk or search www.eastriding.gov.uk/fosteringwhich also has dates and locations of our drop-in sessions.
