National Care Leavers’ Week – celebrating 18 months of positive change for Hampshire care leavers

In the last 18 months, and in response to feedback from over 230 children and young people in Hampshire’s care, the local authority’s Care Experienced Adults (CEA) Council has been busy delivering on its key priorities to:

The CEA Council was set up in 2023 and is made up of 19 adults who were formerly in the care of the County Council. This includes care leaver Jodie, who has shared some of her experiences in a new video released by the County Council to mark National Care Leavers’ Week.

Councillor Roz Chadd, the County Council’s Cabinet Lead for Children’s Services, said: “It goes without saying that being in, and leaving care are both incredibly challenging – but this should never be a barrier to the future success of our children in care and care leavers. We set the bar for them as high as we would for our own children and are absolutely committed to supporting them to achieve their goals and to have the same opportunities and life chances as their peers. 

“We always strive for continuous improvement in all that we do to support our children in care and care leavers. This is why our CEA Council is so important – it is vital that we hear directly from those with first-hand experience of being in care, so we know where and how we can do even better. I am exceptionally proud of all that the CEA Council has already achieved in such a short time and working in partnership with local charity Motiv8, I look forward to seeing their continued progress over the coming months and years.”

Since the CEA Council’s launch last year, key milestones have included a new ‘Challenge Cards’ system, whereby young people can submit their views and ideas for change to the County Council’s Corporate Parenting Board, which works to promote the best outcomes for children in care and care leavers. This board now includes representation from a care leaver, further strengthening the direct line between young people and the County Council. 

CEA Council members have been developing resources for schools to help tackle the stigma faced by children in care in educational settings and presented on this topic earlier this month at a County Council conference for school staff responsible for the educational needs of children who are in or have previously been in care. The conference was also attended by Olympic medallist Fatima Whitbread, who shared her own experiences of growing up in care.

In response to young people’s feedback, new certificates have been developed to recognise children’s achievements. CEA Council members also meet with local housing providers and the County Council’s team which commissions housing for young people aged 16 and over, enabling them to influence the housing options available to care leavers.

Kirsty Robertson, CEO of Motiv8, said: “National Care Leavers’ Week provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our care leavers, share their unique experiences, and raise awareness of both the challenges and triumphs that come with living in and transitioning out of care. Since April 2023, Motiv8 has been honoured to support and facilitate the work of the Care Experienced Adults Council. Collaborating with these passionate young people has been inspiring, as they are fully committed to improving the experiences of young people in care and those leaving care. Through their dedication, they continue to raise awareness and make an impact on key issues that affect their peers.

“The partnership between Hampshire County Council and Motiv8 in supporting the Care Experienced Adults Council has been immensely rewarding, and both organisations are proud of the council’s dedication and achievements.”

As the Corporate Parent to 1,900 children in care in Hampshire, the County Council has a legal duty to support young people as they leave care and transition to adulthood and independence. This continues until the young person turns 21, or up to the age of 25 if they are in full-time education or have further needs. Support includes a Personal Advisor (PA) to help give care leavers the best possible chance of a happy, healthy, successful adult life. PAs offer advice, guidance and support on many topics, including housing, education, employment, training, physical and mental health, finance, and relationships.

Reflecting on the support available, Hampshire care leaver Jodie commented: “It's very hard to leave the care system and then go with nothing because we've always had someone to make decisions for us. Support for Care Leavers is really important because we can feel like we have a sense of trust with other people. It has made a difference because I know I've always got someone by my side to help me make decisions. 

“I want to say to all care leavers - never give up on your dreams and always fight for what you want; you will able to achieve everything you desire if you try hard enough.”