My own journey has taught me just how much potential care leavers have to offer. Growing up in a chaotic family, I lived in over 100 places before my 16th birthday, children’s homes, foster placements, hospital stays, refuges, and even places my mum squatted while fleeing domestic violence. With so many moves, a consistent education wasn’t possible, and I left school at 15 with no qualifications, just a cycling proficiency test so I could ride my bike outside the grounds of the children’s home.
But I found hope and opportunity through work. At 10, I had a job on a market bag stand. At 18, after leaving care, my landlord noticed my work ethic while I was helping load a van and introduced me to market research. That simple act changed the course of my life, proving that a small chance can lead to something extraordinary.
The first decade after leaving care wasn’t easy. I was caught between the pull of my chaotic family and my determination to create a better life. The ambition to get out of poverty and the chaotic lifestyle drove me forward.
A social worker once told me I was a bit of an entrepreneur. When I looked up the word, I was over the moon, it’s motivated me ever since.
Now, I’ve experienced success in work and business, but I’ll never forget the challenges I faced. Many care leavers that have done well for themselves report an individual that has helped them, that has believed in them, that has motivated them, that has supported then to go on to do extraordinary things.
“That’s why I know care leavers have so much to offer employers, we bring resilience, determination, and a drive to succeed that can be transformative in the workplace.”
As an employer, you can be the difference between a care leaver reaching their dreams or falling back into the cycle they’re working so hard to escape. With the right support, care leavers don’t just match their peers—they outperform them, building lives of stability, opportunity, and hope for future generations.
Join us in the Care Leavers Jobs Programme, and let’s create opportunities that transform lives, yours included.
The statistics paint a stark picture of the challenges care leavers endure. We are 70% more likely to die prematurely than our peers, with many struggling with homelessness, unemployment, and mental health issues. Nearly one in three care leavers becomes homeless within two years of leaving care, and over half experience mental health problems, a lasting impact of the trauma we have faced.
This isn’t just a crisis, it’s a generation of young people left without the safety net that most take for granted. Without the right support, many care leavers find themselves trapped in cycles of poverty, instability, and isolation. Yet, with opportunity and encouragement, we can build a future defined not by our past, but by our potential.
That’s why employers play such a crucial role in rewriting this story. By providing a chance, not just a job, you can be the turning point in a care leaver’s life, offering the stability and confidence they need to break free from these statistics.
We believe that every care leaver should have the opportunity to build a stable and successful future—not just those who happen to find the right employer at the right time. That’s why we are calling for a national jobs programme dedicated to care leavers, ensuring that no young person is left behind simply because they grew up in care.
But before we can make that vision a reality, we need to prove what works. Through our experience leading as a Kickstart Gateway, where we placed 180 young people into jobs, giving them the vital first step into employment. We have learned invaluable lessons, what support care leavers need, what barriers they face, and what makes the difference between success and struggle.
Now, we are taking everything we have learned, the real-world experience, academic research, and international best practices, and applying it to this programme, right here in Nottingham. This is where we will prove the case for a national approach, demonstrating that with the right support, structure, and partnerships, care leavers don’t just enter the workforce they excel in it.
Right here in Nottingham, we are running a jobs programme designed to give care leavers the opportunities they deserve while making it easier for employers to bring fresh talent into their workforce.
We understand that taking on a young person who has faced significant challenges can seem like a big commitment. That’s why we are offering a 100% wage subsidy to employers who take on a care leaver aged 16 or 17 who lives in our accommodation. This means that businesses can provide a life-changing opportunity at no financial risk, ensuring that care leavers get the experience and stability they need to thrive.
The job placements are part-time (up to 22.5 hours per week) and are intended to fit alongside college, an apprenticeship, or a traineeship. Whether it’s a first step into employment, hands-on experience in a trade, or a structured training opportunity, we will work with you to create a placement that benefits both your business and the young person you support.
By joining this programme, you’re not just offering a job, you’re providing a foundation for success. With the right work experience, skills, and mentorship, care leavers can break down barriers and build a future full of stability, ambition, and opportunity.
Unlike other employment programmes that end the moment a young person starts work, we stay with them—and with you—every step of the way. We know that care leavers often need ongoing support to thrive in their new roles, and we are committed to making sure both the young person and the employer have everything they need for a successful placement.
Our approach begins before employment even starts. We conduct a thorough Employer Readiness Assessment, visiting each workplace to understand the business, its culture, and the roles being offered. This ensures that placements are well-matched and that employers are ready to provide the right environment for a care leaver to succeed.
Every employer must sign up to core principles that include:
✔ Senior leadership engagement and commitment to supporting care leavers
✔ Agreement on job types, transport considerations, and skill expectations
✔ Active involvement of HR teams and management to facilitate a supportive work environment
✔ A commitment to ongoing feedback and programme evaluation
We visit each employer to conduct a detailed needs assessment, gathering key information about the role, including:
📌 Job descriptions & required competencies – What skills, qualifications, and personal qualities are essential?
📌 Maths & English levels – What literacy and numeracy skills are needed?
📌 Soft skills & personal qualities – What characteristics define a successful employee in this role?
📌 Training & career progression – What opportunities exist for development?
📌 Work environment – Location, dress code, transport needs, and workplace culture
Using the information gathered from the employer visit, we work closely with care leavers to help them build the skills and confidence needed for their specific job. Some key soft skills we focus on include:
🗣 Effective communication – Handling workplace conversations with confidence
🤝 Teamwork & collaboration – Working well with colleagues and supervisors
🎯 Problem-solving & decision-making – Navigating workplace challenges
📅 Time management & reliability – Understanding expectations and meeting deadlines
💡 Initiative & learning mindset – Taking responsibility and continuously improving
At the same time, we work on personal qualities that employers value, such as:
✔ Resilience & adaptability – Overcoming setbacks and learning from mistakes
✔ Commitment to quality – Taking pride in work and going the extra mile
✔ Integrity & responsibility – Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching
✔ Self-management – Staying motivated and managing time effectively
By understanding exactly what employers need, we can tailor our pre-employment training to ensure our care leavers develop the right soft skills and workplace behaviours. This means we don’t just place care leavers in jobs, but we are preparing them for success. At the point a care leaver starts work, they are not only job-ready but employer-ready, reducing the risk of dropouts and ensuring a smooth transition into the workplace.
With ongoing support and regular check-ins, we don’t just help young people start their journey, we walk it with them. This is what makes the Norman Galloway Homes Jobs Programme different, a programme designed for long-term success, not just short-term placements.
We provide a 100% wage subsidy to employers who take part in our 3-Day Paid Work Experience Days for 16, 17 and 18+ care leavers. This is a unique way to engage with care leavers, reduce the risk of longer-term placements breaking down, and contribute to preparing young people for the world of work, all with no long-term commitment.
For many care leavers, stepping into employment for the first time can feel overwhelming. That’s why these short-term, paid work experiences provide a safe space to practice workplace skills, make mistakes, and build confidence before moving into longer term roles.
✅ Try Before You Hire – Employers can assess potential candidates in a real work setting without the pressure of an immediate longer-term commitment. If a care leaver excels, you may choose to offer them a longer-term opportunity with confidence.
✅ Reducing Placement Breakdowns – By allowing care leavers to experience the workplace in a structured and supported way, we help them adjust to employer expectations, reducing the likelihood of longer-term placements failing.
✅ A Meaningful Way to Give Back – Even if your business can’t commit to a longer term placement, offering a 3-day work experience helps prepare care leavers for future roles elsewhere. Your involvement directly contributes to breaking the cycle of unemployment.
📌 Apply and refine their soft skills – such as teamwork, time management, and workplace communication, ensuring they develop the workplace behaviours employers value.
📌 Gain first-hand experience of real job roles – helping them understand employer expectations and workplace culture.
📌 Receive structured feedback – allowing us to recognise their achievements and help them work on areas that need improvement before stepping into a longer-term role.
At the end of the 3-day placement, we work with employers to provide constructive feedback on the care leaver’s performance, recognising their achievements and identifying areas for improvement. This ensures they gain valuable insights and receive targeted support, helping them develop the skills needed to thrive in a longer-term role.
Whether you’re looking for a low-risk way to test a candidate’s potential or simply want to play a part in changing a young person’s future, this programme provides an easy and impactful way to get involved.
