Thanks to a coordinated, city-wide effort young people leaving care in London are to benefit from a number of new support measures.
Boroughs across the capital have come together with NHS London Region, Integrated Care Boards, the Mayor of London, and Transport for London to offer this package of support as part of the recognition that leaders across the public sector can do more. This recognition has culminated in the Pan London Care Leavers Compact, which was created to make sure that the consistency and quality of support on offer is improved.
As organisations join the compact and commit funding for a number of concessions for care leavers, they are supporting young people to overcome the challenges that they might face whilst empowering them to become more independent.
Support measures in the compact include:
- Free prescriptions
- Half price bus and tram travel
- Housing support
- Access to training and employment opportunities in healthcare
London Councils’ Executive Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Ian Edwards, said:
“London’s care leavers have so much potential but are often dealing with challenging circumstances that stop them from getting ahead. The Pan London Care Leavers Compact demonstrates the power of London stepping up and collaborating with a meaningful goal in mind – to level the playing field for this disadvantaged group of young people.
“It has been fantastic to see London boroughs working together to listen to care-experienced young people and develop better support for them. It has been equally great to see how supportive of this worthwhile mission local NHS ICBs, the Mayor and TfL have been. We hope that other organisations join us in the months ahead.”
London is currently home to between 15,000 and 16,000 18-25-year-olds who have been under local authority care. Information about the support that they can receive is being given to the care leavers by their Personal Advisor.
Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, also commented:
“Leaving care can be extremely challenging and daunting for young adults who can feel unprepared for the transition to independent living. Many care leavers lack the resources needed to continue training or gain meaningful employment once they’ve left care, which can, in turn, lead to both financial and emotional hardship.
“That’s why the Mayor and I were pleased to recently announce that his new care leavers travel concession has opened for applications, meaning care leavers aged between 18 and 25 who live in London can apply for half-price bus and tram travel. This will give these young people a helping hand to thrive in this next stage of their lives as we continue to build a better, fairer London for everyone.”
Image credit: iStock
