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
  1. Care Leaver Covenant Summary – PDF
  2. Keep on caring – Supporting young people from care to independence – PDF
  3. Local offer guidance – Guidance for local authorities – PDF

Covenant Timeline

  • 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 The Rt Hon Esther McVey

  • July 2018

    National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum

  • August 2018

    Recruitment of care leaver ambassadors to inform launch and participate in Advisory Board

  • August 2018

    ‘Target 50’ reached

  • October 2018

    CARE LEAVER COVENANT LAUNCHED

  • November 2018

    Covenant meet with Justin Tomlinson, The Big House to discuss universal credit and early intervention support from DWP

  • December 2018

    Covenant and Amazon shape comprehensive employment offer

  • January 2019

    Lemn Sissay become Covenant Champion

  • January 2019

    LifeSkills Barclays commence work on financial management resources

  • February 2019

    Compass Group to roll-out pre-employment programme in London and Birmingham from Spring 2019

  • February 2019

    Covenant create care leaver housing strategy working group

  • February 2019

    Minister Zahawi, Edward Argar and Teresa Clarke meet to discuss MOJ care leaver pilot

  • March 2019

    DWP National Employer Partnership team announce dedicated resource specifically for the Covenant

  • March 2019

    Corporate Champion Event

Case Studies

Highlights of best practice through England. Should you wish to feature your work here, please get in touch.

ENGIE: Into Work Training Success!

ENGIE: Into Work Training Success!

ENGIE contacted job centres, local schools & colleges in the Stockport area where we are working on Elisabeth Gardens to work collaboratively with Engie on a number of initiatives.

ENGIE: Leeds City Council

ENGIE: Leeds City Council

ENGIE are committed to delivering Social Value in communities where we are contractually working. As part of the ongoing works, ENGIE have been taking part in local community initiatives and providing employment and training opportunities for local people.

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Featured Signatories
Case Studies