The Care Leavers Project

Project workers:

• Amanda Burdfield
• Paul Brockman

Connexions (a government agency giving free help and advice to people aged 16-19). Connexions fund the Care Leaver Project.

The people that we work with are aged 16 to 21 years of age. If they are in higher education we can work with them until they reach 24.

We bridge the gap between Southampton Social Services Leaving Care Team and Connexions.

We work with people who are about to leave the care system. They are living in a children’s home, in foster care or with other care givers.

We help by:

• Helping them find some form of work
• Helping them onto college courses
• Helping them find training for their chosen job
• Making them aware of apprenticeship opportunities
• Offering help and advice to gain the skills needed for the transition from leaving care into adulthood.

We also provide a one day Care Leavers Workshop. This course is given by care leavers; it helps others become more aware about the day to day issues care leavers face.