Business backing for care leavers

Cabinet member Mark Sutton addresses business leaders about supporting care leavers at a previous event.

Young people leaving care in Staffordshire are being helped into employment or further education thanks to a new partnership.

 Staffordshire County Council and businesses are working together to give young adults life-changing opportunities.

The new project allows Staffordshire businesses to support care leavers in different ways, ranging from guaranteeing job interviews, to annual contributions to a bursary fund, or guaranteed job offers to eligible applicants.

Mark Sutton, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Children and Young People, said:

More than 1,000 young people in the county, aged between 16 and 25, have lived with a foster family, in a children’s home or other supported housing service.

Despite being very capable and having a lot to offer, these young people are significantly less likely than their peers to be in education, employment or training.

This is about creating extra support and opportunity for these young people to take their first steps into independence, while the employer is supporting their local community.”

Companies will be recognised publicly for their commitment and can offer different levels of support, including:

• Committing to employing a qualified care leaver;
• Guaranteeing an interview to someone meeting the application criteria;
• Contributing to a bursary fund, which supports care leavers to access funding to support them into or in work. The support may pay for training, set up costs or specialist travel costs. It also supports programmes to support care leavers into higher education. 

1Step Beyond Support, of Cannock, has already signed up to the scheme, having already had experience of supporting a young person in care.

Matt Webb, Director of 1Step Beyond Support, said:

I believe in actions are needed from our sector to stand up and be counted for what we do.

We have first-hand experience of dealing with these young adults and they are capable and talented and only in need of a little helping hand which we are happy to provide.

The care sector should get behind such projects and show that care really does care by supporting people who need it.”

Staffordshire County Council will do the legwork for interested businesses, using its fully-funded and expert recruitment service Staffordshire Jobs and Careers service to match candidates to vacancies.

Mark Sutton added:

We work closely with the business community in Staffordshire and helping employers tap into an under-used resource is another example of that.

I would urge them to find out more about the scheme and see how they can help others and benefit at the same time.”

Businesses can find out more about the event at a free breakfast event on Wednesday, 26 March, between 8 and 10.30am at Trentham Park Golf Club, ST4 8AE. As well as breakfast and a talk about the project, there will be time for networking too.

More details about the breakfast are here.

More information from the scheme is available from Chloe.Kelly@staffordshire.gov.uk .