Children in care can sadly often be seen as a financial burden, but that’s not how it should be.
The work that CCLA, the UK’s largest manager of charity funds, has been funding through the Local Authorities’ Mutual Investment Trust, alongside the charity UK Community Foundations, clearly shows the other side of the coin.
Our jointly funded Care Leavers Programme, providing support for care leavers to thrive as they transition to adulthood, was originally valued at £3.6 million over three years in 17 areas.
Now, a further £1.7 million grant from the Henry Smith Foundation over three years has enabled the programme to expand into another 14 areas, with local community foundations working alongside their local councils and other providers. Programmes in Wales and Northern Ireland are also included.
I have listened to successful people in my own city of Liverpool who have come through the care system and gone on to great things, becoming university students, a renowned concert pianist, an expert in artificial intelligence, and a BBC TV presenter, among many other things.
I have seen the joy that the work can bring and the valuable resource for our communities and country that these young people represent if given the right help.
To go with care leavers to the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra or to museums – or to enjoy a Chinese banquet or take part in water sports, and to see good experiences being given to youngsters who have had too many bad experiences – has given me huge satisfaction and pleasure.
We hope that other organisations and councils will buy into the work that we have pioneered.
- You can read the recently published report reviewing our first year’s work on the UK Community Foundations website.
- For information on how to get involved in the programme, email partnerships@ukcommunityfoundations.org