Care leavers have told us that they have to work harder than others to access opportunities and to understand processes and procedures related to employment. They often feel stigmatised and misunderstood. Many care leavers live independently from aged 18 onwards and have limited or no support network; stating they often feel very alone. They lack family and have often experienced early childhood trauma. It is evident that they are not a homogenous group, but most bear the scars of their earlier experiences.  

To make up for this deficit in family and connections, care leavers benefit from ongoing support (coaching) and opportunities that build social capital, wellbeing and mental health. Ambition and self-belief need to be nurtured. Care leavers who end up in good jobs say that they wasted years on benefits or in dead-end work. They want to have the same opportunities as other young people. The link with businesses will support care leavers to broaden their experiences, develop an understanding of the employment market and develop confidence, assertiveness and self-belief to get good jobs.

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen care leavers' confidence further reduced and so by having a network of relevant organisations and a breadth of business partners, care leavers can be helped to find pathways suited to their needs.

Young people will be based across London and we will initially target partners from East London, starting with London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD), also working with organisations across London focused on care leaver employment.