|5 minute read time
Not on our watch
Written by Katherine Hernandez, head of service delivery (Northern region)
According to the Department of Education, care leavers are more likely than their peers to report feeling lonely or isolated. Over half become homeless during the two years following leaving care.
Four in ten care leavers aged 19-21 are not in education, employment or training and care leavers experience higher rates of poor emotional health and well-being.
This isn't something we're prepared to accept.
Home Group has been approved to be a partner with Durham County Council to run a 12 month pilot to support care leavers and address those depressing stats.
We will work with up to 18 young people on the run-up to their 18th birthday and support them with the transition to adult services. We will do pre-tenancy support to get them ready for their next steps but importantly, we are there to make sure they don't slip through the gap and become one of those statistics.
With our proven track record and history in supporting people leaving care and our five amazing young peoples’ services across the regions, we are experts in this field. We know that many young people are far from ready to live independently at 18, many of us weren't either!
This transition is a vital time in anyone’s life and having a proactive support network can be crucial, encouraging positive outcomes and longer-term success for those in need of support.
I am really proud that we're working so closely with Durham on something that can have such an enormous impact on a young person’s life.
Find out more: To find out more about this and our other care models email newmodelsofcare@homegroup.org.uk