Care Leavers Week 28 October – 3 November

National Care Leavers’ Week allows the public, professionals, carers, decision-makers and the media to come together, celebrate care leavers and raise awareness of the issues in the care system.

Statistics reveal that in England 83,840 children were in care on 31 March 2023 and the latest figures reveal that 1 in every 141 children is in care*.

Young care leavers are expected to live much more independently at a much earlier stage than their peers. The average age that young people leave their parental home is 23, yet care leavers are much younger. Once they have left care, these young people are not necessarily able to rely on the support of their former carers in the same way that other young people are able to turn to their parents and family for support.

Kent Community Foundation supports care leavers through its Care Leavers Fund. The Fund awards grants to support care leavers aged between 16.5 and 25, as they move from foster or state care to independent living.

The funding is available throughout the county, and Kent Community Foundation will consider requests that aim to support the young person to set up home, gain confidence, experience, life skills and help reach their potential. All nominations much be made by a professional.

Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and Impact and Deputy Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation said. “Our Care Leavers Fund is a very important support for the young people who are leaving care in Kent and Medway. Young people leave the care system for many different reasons including, returning to their parental home or to a person with parental responsibility, being subject to a special guardianship order, moving into independent living or being adopted. We know that care leavers consistently experience fewer positive outcomes than the general population and our support from this Fund is vital.”

Kent Community Foundation is part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-seven Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged.

Professionals who wish to nominate a care leaver for funding from the Care Leavers Fund click here.