What is the Care Leaver Covenant?
The Covenant is a promise made by private, public or voluntary organisations to provide support for care leavers aged 16-25 to help them to live independently.In July 2016, the Government published ‘Keep on Caring’ to support young people from care to independence. A key policy commitment in the paper is a strategic pledge to introduce a Care Leaver Covenant.
All young people who leave care at 16, 17 or 18 are provided with statutory support1, in the form of a Local Offer2. This should include help in the transition to living independently; support with finding accommodation and with any costs of participating in education, training and employment.
However, in order to provide a greater level of support at this crucial stage during the transition of care leavers to adulthood, wider society also needs to play a part, which is where the Care Leaver Covenant comes in.
Useful Documents
Timeline
-
February 2018
Spectra First awarded the Care Leaver Covenant Contract -
February 2018
Devised engagement strategy -
February 2018
Secured first signatory -
March 2018
Engagement strategy and ‘Target 50’ roll-out -
March 2018
Appointment of advisory group Chair -
May 2018
Meeting with Minister Nadhim Zahawi MP -
July 2018
Andy Burnham announced as champion for Care Leaver Covenant -
July 2018
Care leaver youth engagement event (with Catch22) -
July 2018
Champion local authority consultation -
July 2018
Care Leaver Covenant and Big House performance at (L&W) conference, sit down with Rt Hon Esther McVey MP -
July 2018
National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum (Catch 22) -
August 2018
Recruitment of care leaver ambassadors to inform launch and participate in Advisory Board -
August 2018
‘Target 50’ reached -
October 2018
Launch
Case Studies
Highlights of best practice through England. Should you wish to feature your work here, please get in touch.
‘Casey’s Story’ with Barclays Life Skills
This film is brought to you by LifeSkills created with Barclays, in conjunction with City of Wolverhampton Children and Young People’s Service.
‘Life of Ryan’ a Spectra Original
This is a short animation which depicts the care journey of our first Care Leaver Covenant ambassador. Told through Ryan’s eyes, this narrative charts his route through care, detailing some of his difficulties – the ups and downs, but also what it means to have a...
Tottenham Hotspur Foundation: Independent Living Workshops
Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, in partnership with Haringey Young Adults Service, is offering a series of ‘independent living workshops’ to prepare care leavers for life as tenants. Tottenham Hotspur Foundation Since 2006, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation has...