News
Funding boost for care leavers
This November marks National Care Leavers Month, an important opportunity to celebrate the achievements of young people who have been in care and to raise awareness of the unique challenges they face. Our dedicated fund for care leavers continues to make a life-changing difference to young people across the county, providing essential practical and emotional support as they move towards independence
We are excited to be expanding support for care leavers across Kent and Medway as part of the Care Leavers Programme.
This expansion is thanks to a new donation to support initiatives across the county by the Henry Smith Foundation and continued support from LAMIT, in collaboration with investment manager CCLA and other match funding.
We’re proud to be one of 31 community foundations now supporting care leavers around the UK in England, Wales and Northern Ireland through the programme. We will build on this work with local partners to provide the practical essentials that care-experienced young people need – while helping to strengthen the deep emotional and systemic support necessary – to accompany the transition to adult independence.
Catherine Glover, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation, said: “Care leavers often face huge challenges when they transition into independent living, from financial insecurity to emotional isolation. Our fund ensures that no young person must face these challenges alone. The generosity of our donors and match funding partners has been crucial in enabling us to provide this lifeline to so many young people across Kent.”
The Care Leavers Programme in Kent and Medway has been supporting young people to take their next steps into adult life, funding everything from university bursaries and driving lessons to home equipment and career coaching.
In the first year of the fund, 35 individual grants were awarded, averaging £800, alongside a grant to the Young Lives Foundation, which supported an estimated 70 young people through specialist delivery work. In year two, the fund continues to help the county’s care leavers, having awarded two grants to organisations and 27 grants to individuals since April.
These individual stories reflect the wider impact of the fund, which provides young people with the chance to build secure, independent lives after leaving care:
- C, 22, entered care aged twelve and recently discovered she was pregnant. Facing additional challenges when her bed broke, she was forced to sleep on her sofa, worsening her back pain. With a small grant, C was able to buy a new bed frame and mattress, a chest of drawers, and baby essentials. She shared: "It has helped with my mental health as I am not stressed or worrying about how I am going to purchase items I need. I am also more rested and no longer have back pain from sleeping on the sofa. It has helped exactly how I hoped it would.”
- H, 21, who is originally from Afghanistan and has refugee status, received a grant of £781 to enrol on a taxi driving course, including the private hire licence fee. Having already passed his UK driving test, the course has enabled him to work as a taxi driver, securing him steady employment and a vital pathway to financial independence.
Funding for Individuals
The fund for individual care leavers will consider requests for grants that aim to support young people aged 16.5-25 years, as they move from foster/state care to independent living.
The funding can be used to set up home, gain confidence, experience, life skills and help the young care leaver to reach their potential. There is no deadline to apply, with nominations considered on a rolling basis.
All nominations must be submitted by a professional third party Individual Grants - Nomination Form
Examples of professional third parties include, but are not limited to, social workers, charity employees, GPs, occupational therapists, family liaison officers and teachers
Funding for Organisations
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to charities and community groups in Kent & Medway providing frontline services to care leavers, age 16.5-25. This fund is available via funding from CCLA Investment House, with match funding. Grants should focus on supporting care leavers as they move from foster/state care to independent living. Funding may include mentoring, therapy, counselling and peer support services, care leaver sessions, practical advice and training to support care leavers to set up home, gain confidence, experience, life skills and help reach their potential.