BUSINESSES URGED TO SUPPORT CARE LEAVERS

Businesses and organisations in Plymouth are being urged to follow Barnardo’s and NHS Professionals, and sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant and offer support to a care experienced young person by offering apprenticeships, work experience, and free or discounted goods or services.

As part of its commitment to promoting equality the city council offer guaranteed interviews to those if they meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, or have been in Plymouth City Council care.

The Care Leaver Covenant is a national programme that supports care leavers aged 16 to 25 to live independently.

The Covenant works with the council to create opportunities for care leavers in a number of ways and aims to make Plymouth the best place for care experienced children and young people to live, to grow up and be supported for when they are ready to leave care.

Care leavers have dedicated personal advisors, who can help provide information on what the Covenant offers to them.

The aim of the Care Leaver Covenant, to which organisations commit, is to provide additional support for those leaving care; making available a different type of support and expertise from that provided by local authorities.

So far the Covenant have created over 2,000 opportunities covering employment, training, support, free tickets, discounts, giveaways and help with DIY! Some of these will be local and some will be national. Opportunities can be found on the website mycovenant.org.uk

The Covenant will support organisations by making contact and providing training, advice and guidance on the best way to support the young person.

Councillor Charlotte Carlyle, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Children and Young People, said: “The Care Leaver Covenant is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to support our care leavers who are looking to get their foot in the door and to support them with the next step in their journey. We are appealing to the people of Plymouth to get involved and pledge their support, to sign up and offer a care leaver the opportunity to broaden their horizons and support them in their next step in life.”

For more information visit mycovenant.org.uk