The City of Wolverhampton Council has helped over 30 young people make the move out of care to independent living in the last year, despite the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
And those who are about to make, or have recently made, the move will be taking part in a range of activities next week to highlight their progress.
They include a day of music at APS Studios, go karting at Cannon Raceway and sports and a movie night at Aldersley Leisure Village, as well as an event for care leavers who are not in employment, education and training to highlight some of the opportunities available to them at the same venue.
Care leavers and members of the Care Leavers Independent Collective will attend an event at Drayton Manor, and the Co-production and Youth Engagement Team will take part in Total Respect training. Care leavers will also be able to join a national celebration being hosted by the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum.
Councillor Beverley Momenabadi, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Supporting care leavers is a key priority for the council; young people in care have often had a very difficult start to their lives, so it's important that we give them the help they need to make the transition into adulthood.
"Our care leavers are making really good progress, and Care Leavers Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their achievements on a local and national stage as they begin their journey into adulthood."
National Care Leavers Week seeks to highlight the needs of care leavers, and encouraging the agencies responsible for looking after them to work in a coordinated and effective way.
Wolverhampton's Local Offer for care leavers aged between 16 and 25 provides information about a wide range of services which could help young care leavers prepare for adult life. The Local Offer was developed in partnership with care leavers and includes details of support which they are entitled to by law, as well as additional services that the council has been able to secure with the help of partner organisations. For more information, please visit Wolverhampton Children in Care.
