National Care Leavers’ Week finished earlier this month, with councils around the country lighting up civic buildings in blue in support and recognition of their care leavers.
As ever, the week provided a vital opportunity to acknowledge the success and achievements of care leavers, while also raising awareness of the ongoing challenges our young people face as they transition from care.
As a councillor and therefore a corporate parent, supporting those leaving care is an enormous but thoroughly rewarding responsibility.
It is councils’ job to ensure those in care and care leavers have the best possible start in life and to prepare and support them as they take the first steps into independence.
Councils demonstrate a wealth of good practice every day when supporting care leavers, some of which was highlighted at the LGA’s annual conference last week (see ‘Inspiring conversations’).
As part of its Step Ahead campaign, and with your help, the LGA continues to add to our collection of council case studies, as sharing good practice can encourage and inspire us all.
But while we continue to work to improve our support to care leavers, there is a need to consider changes that can be implemented on a wider, national level, that councils alone cannot deliver.
That’s why, this month, the LGA called for government-funded exemptions from council tax and the costs of prescriptions, eye tests and NHS dental care for care leavers up to age 25.
These measures form part of our ‘National Care Leaver Asks’ programme of change, which we urge the Government to consider to help ensure the best possible outcomes for our children leaving care.
I look forward to discussing this further with colleagues at this month’s National Children and Adult Services Conference in Liverpool (27-29 November).
- For more information on Step Ahead, please see the LGA website