Celebrating our care leavers

Democracy and Local Affairs, Health and Social Care
Photo from Buckinghamshire Council’s National Care Leavers Week event.

From setting off for university to starting out in exciting new jobs, Buckinghamshire’s care leavers have a lot to be proud of and today their achievements have been celebrated as part of Buckinghamshire Council’s National Care Leavers Week event.

National Care Leavers Week runs from 24 to 28 October and offers the chance to highlight and celebrate the achievements of young people who have previously been in the care of the local authority.

The Buckinghamshire Leaving Care Team is actively working with 260 young people, who have left care arrangements such as foster placements and community homes and are embarking on their independent adult lives. An additional 109 young people aged between 21 to 25 are supported by the team as and when needed. The team of personal advisors work closely with each young person, supporting them in everything from careers to relationships, to budgeting and health.

Nearly three quarters of Bucks care leavers have successfully progressed in education, training and employment roles with careers ranging from paramedics to plumbers and business owners to beauticians. One care leaver currently works with royalty whilst others have got jobs in leisure and tourism industries overseas. A total of 30 care leavers are currently attending university on undergraduate and masters courses in a range of subjects including accounting, medicine, events management, teaching, physics, performing arts and business. A number are also studying to be social workers and hoping to use their own experiences to forge future carers helping other young people in care.

During National Care Leavers Week, the Buckinghamshire Leaving Care Team has arranged a number of events including:

  • An employability workshop with HR advisors supporting with CV writing, interview skills and employability preparation.
  • A care leaver’s event showcasing all the support that is available for care experienced adults both within the council and with partner agencies. The event brought together colleagues from health, housing, local counselling services, financial experts, community groups, parenting support, education providers, local employers, training schemes, leisure centres and support agencies to meet and talk to care leavers about the support and services they can access in the local area.
  • A care leaver’s lunch for young people who are open to the service which will provide a chance to meet and mingle.
  • A fun evening trip to The Howl, a spooktacular event at Mead Open Farm arranged by the Youth Voice team.

Anita Cranmer, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education said: “It is wonderful to see how successful and ambitious our young care leavers are and rightly so. We want to make sure that all our care leavers have the opportunity to achieve great things and go on to live successful and happy adult lives. We work hard to support them in the way they need for as long as they need, and we are proud of the fantastic achievements they have already made – well done!”