When I was 16, all I wanted was to break free from Social Services. I didn’t want their help; I just wanted them out of my life. They had taken me from my mum, and I didn’t trust them. I wanted my independence – a job, my own money, and a chance to live life on my own terms.
Not every care leaver feels the same. Some appreciate the support and build positive relationships with their social workers and support staff. But what is common to most care leavers is that being in care was not a choice – it happened to them, often as a result of circumstances beyond their control.
Like many care leavers, I was pushed towards college, even though I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My family had tried college, and it hadn’t worked for them. It felt like I was being made to tick a box, rather than being given a real opportunity. If there had been a programme like this when I was younger, I would have found my feet, my independence, and my success much sooner than I did.
That’s why we’ve created the Care Leaver Jobs Programme. If you’re 16 or 17 and living in our accommodation, we guarantee to match you with one of our employers for a paid job, earning £7.55 per hour for up to 25 hours a week. This isn’t just a programme – it’s your chance to build a foundation for your future, gain confidence, and take the first steps towards independence. But don't worry we understand that we are not all the same and one size does not fit all. The beauty of the jobs programme is that it is personally tailored for you and more importantly, with you.
Many care leavers have been promised opportunities that never materialise, leaving them feeling let down and unsure of who to trust. On the Care Leaver Jobs Programme, we deliver on our promises. Here’s how we ensure you’re set up to succeed.
By reducing the risks for employers and preparing you with the skills and support you need, we ensure you’re given every opportunity to succeed. With our programme, you’re not just starting a job – you’re building a future.
While you’re on the programme, we pay your wages so the employer doesn’t have to. This removes the financial risk for employers and allows them to focus on investing their time in you. This arrangement also gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your potential and prove how valuable you are.
We work closely with you to identify and address any obstacles that might prevent you from working, such as confidence, transport, or skill gaps. From the beginning, we’re with you every step of the way to help you succeed.
Our pre-employability programme prepares you with the skills and resources you need to thrive. Employers feel confident partnering with us because they know we offer ongoing support during your employment, ensuring you’re set up to succeed.
We don’t just place you in any job, we carefully match roles to your strengths and potential. In many cases, employers even create new positions tailored to care leavers, providing meaningful opportunities designed for your success.
Every employer we work with has been thoroughly assessed to ensure they share our commitment to supporting care leavers. They trust our process because we take the time to align the right roles with the right individuals.
By reducing the risks for employers and preparing you with the skills and support you need, we ensure you’re given every opportunity to succeed. With our programme, you’re not just starting a job – you’re building a future.
We previously participated in the Kickstart Scheme, placing 180 young people aged 16–25 into paid employment. Under Kickstart, wages were funded by the Department for Work and Pensions in a way that closely resembles our approach with the Care Leaver Jobs Programme.
During Kickstart, we facilitated over One Million Pounds in wage subsidies to local businesses, enabling them to employ young people. The programme was a tremendous success, helping us establish a strong network of employers and gain valuable insights. While Kickstart has now ended, we continue to build on its legacy and actively campaign for a national jobs programme specifically for care leavers, similar to the Kickstart Scheme.
For now, the Care Leaver Jobs Programme is exclusively available to care leavers aged 16 and 17 who are living in our accommodation, offering them tailored support, opportunities, and a clear path to independence.
As part of our commitment to preparing care leavers for success, the Care Leaver Jobs Programme includes tailored modules focusing on the soft skills and personal qualities that employers value most. These modules are designed to bridge the gap between potential and readiness, giving care leavers the tools to thrive in the workplace and beyond.
The soft skills module equips care leavers with practical competencies that foster effective workplace interactions and enable them to handle challenges with confidence. These skills are critical for customer-facing roles, team collaboration, and decision-making. Key areas of focus include:
The personal qualities module focuses on fostering character traits that contribute to long-term professional and personal growth. These modules help care leavers build a foundation of integrity, accountability, and self-awareness, ensuring they stand out as reliable and adaptable employees. Key areas of focus include:
These modules ensure care leavers develop the essential competencies and character traits that employers value. By combining practical skills with personal development, our programme prepares care leavers to meet workplace challenges head-on and confidently take the first steps towards independence and career success.
Our 3-Day Work Experience Days are designed to give you a unique opportunity to put your skills into practice while earning money and gaining real-world experience. These short-term roles allow you to explore different types of jobs, helping you identify your strengths and interests as you prepare for a longer-term role.
During these work experience days, you’ll apply the soft skills and personal qualities you’ve been developing in real workplace settings. Each placement offers the chance to work alongside professionals, learn job-specific skills, and build your confidence in a supportive environment.
At the end of each 3-day period, the employer provides an evaluation of your performance. This feedback helps us understand your progress and identify areas where we can provide additional support or training. By honing your skills with each experience, you’ll be even better prepared for success in a longer-term role.
These work experience days are an important step on your journey to independence, giving you practical tools, valuable insights, and the confidence to achieve your goals.
A key part of our commitment is removing barriers that could prevent you from succeeding in the workplace. We ensure that each young person has access to the concrete resources they need, giving you the best chance to thrive. This includes addressing housing, documentation, finances, and other essential needs that might otherwise hold you back.
Through our Barrier Clearing Referral Process, we identify and address critical gaps in resources. Whether it’s securing a birth certificate, passport, or National Insurance number, or ensuring that you have appropriate work clothing, tools, or access to training courses like First Aid or Food Safety, we take a proactive approach to meeting these needs. Additionally, we assist with travel arrangements, budgeting support, and access to childcare, ensuring you are equipped for both work and personal growth.
For every young person, we collaborate with your social worker or Personal Advisor and pathway plans to tailor our support, ensuring your individual circumstances are considered. By providing these essential resources and removing obstacles, we build a strong foundation for our care leavers to confidently step into the workplace and beyond.
Once you’ve completed your work experience days with different employers and had the opportunity to practice and refine your new skills, we’ll work with you to take the next step in your journey. Our goal is to match you with an employer where you can work more regularly while continuing with your education or training.
If returning to college isn’t the right path for you, don’t worry – we’ve got options. Depending on your skills and interests, we may be able to help you secure an apprenticeship or traineeship with one of the employers we’ve partnered with. These opportunities allow you to gain practical experience, earn a qualification, and continue building the skills you need for long-term success.
Our commitment doesn’t stop at matching you with an employer. We’ll support you throughout this transition to ensure you’re set up to succeed, whatever path you choose.
Welcome to the World of Paid Work !
