Skills Launchpad Plymouth
Suport for Care Leavers
Building your future – pathways for care leavers
Leaving care as a young person can be a difficult time, now more so than ever given the economic uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic. We are here to help and there is a lot of local support available to help guide you positively on your next steps.
Find out more about Plymouth’s specific support for care leavers below:
Plymouth Online Directory
Plymouth Online Directory is designed to provide information, advice and guidance for care leavers.
https://www.plymouthonlinedirectory.com/adultsocialcare/caringforotherpeople/careleaversservice
Plymouth City Council’s Youth Service 18+ Care Leavers Team
The Youth Service's 18+ Care Leavers Team provides support and resources to young people aged 18 to 21 who have been in local authority care. This can be extended to age 25 where young people over 21 returns to Children's Social Care to ask for support with education plans.
https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/youngpeople/youthservices/targetedyouthservices/careleavers
Download Plymouth’s Leaving Care booklet
Download Plymouth’s Leaving Care booklet here:
https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/LeavingCareBooklet.pdf
CSW offer for Young People Leaving Care
CSW provide additional support to young people who are leaving care, ensuring they are aware of the opportunities available to them and supporting them into education, employment or training.
Jobcentre Plus Plymouth
If you are a claimant, there are specialist care leaver Work Coaches available who can offer you 1-2-1 support.
If you want to contact your nearest office, you can find their details using the local office search.
Barnardos
This charity offers local initiatives to support care leavers in and around Plymouth.
Become. The Charity for children in care and young care leavers
Are you in care or a care leaver, or supporting someone who is? Looking for help and advice? Contact the friendly advice line for help planning next steps for your education and plans for the future
https://www.becomecharity.org.uk/for-young-people/care-advice-line/
Support for accessing further and higher education as care leavers
The Care Leavers Association
The prospect of embarking upon a college or university course can be a daunting one for anybody these days, with the cost of tuition fees and student living rising. For care leavers, who may not have very good experiences of the education system and who will usually lack the support of a family to fall back on, it can be even more intimidating. However, education is an important and valuable asset and the right of every young person.
Therefore, if you are a care leaver who wants to pursue it after the age of 16 or 18 you really should. Find advice and information here to help care leavers who are considering, or are currently enrolled on, a further, or higher education course.
https://www.careleavers.com/what-we-do/young-peoples-project/acessingeducation-2/
Government financial help for care leavers accessing further and higher education
https://www.gov.uk/extra-money-pay-university/university-and-college-hardship-funds
UCAS Undergraduate support for care leavers
If you're a care leaver, or looked after a child, and applying to higher education, there's support available to help you with finance, settling in, and accommodation.