The Care Leavers Association as part of the Access All Areas coalition of charities fully supports the voice of young care leavers who are calling on the government to increase support beyond the age of 21.
| Care leavers in England are calling on the new Government for help with employment, training and housing, and for continued support beyond the current age of 21, a new report says today.
The report from Access All Areas, a coalition of leading youth charities, shows that care leavers want support up to the age of 25, whether or not they are in education or training, and also more support for those in prison. Access All Areas report 2015 Findings also show that care leavers are calling for better housing, and employment training and financial support. Care leavers and Access All Areas are now calling on the Westminster Government to review care leavers policies and to commit to improving the lives and opportunities available for young people leaving care. Access All Areas is a coalition of leading youth charities including The Care Leavers Association, Barnardo’s, The Prince’s Trust and The Who Cares? Trust. The coalition gives young people a voice to let the government know what they want to Keep, Kick or Change, about leaving care in the new Parliament. Together, the charities are calling on the Westminster Government to listen to the messages direct from care leavers, making sure that they have the best opportunities as they enter adult life. The Government must now listen to these young people, putting their needs at the heart of policies. They can start by making sure that each care leaver’s personal adviser can continue giving them lifeline housing, jobs, training and money advice up until they’re 25 years old.” David Graham, National Director of The Care Leavers’ Association, said: “The government needs to improve the system so that care leavers can get the exact support they need when they need it – and not base the support on age related criteria” |