Sefton Council’s work service Sefton@Work have been celebrating Care Leavers Week with a bespoke careers event for care experienced young people today.

Care Leavers Week

Numerous employers and education leaders from across Merseyside and beyond joined the event to chat to young people, find out more about the challenges they face in the employment and education market and showcase their opportunities in their own sectors.

Young people had access to:

• jobs and apprenticeships from a variety of employers.
• a wide range of work experience placements to boost their cv
• advice and support with money management
• mental health support
• housing advice and support
• in work benefits advice
• employability support from Sefton@Work
• Training advice from Sefton adult learning
• Ring fenced jobs for care experienced young people

Strong Corporate Parent

The event is part of a wider push across various departments of the Council to be a strong corporate parent and use local influence to the benefit of care experienced young people who often face disadvantage and discrimination across housing, employment, education and can struggle as a result with mental health.

Cllr Mhairi Doyle, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care said:

“Being a strong corporate parent across all departments in the Council is one of our top priorities and I am delighted to see Sefton@Work arranging a dedicated session for our care experienced young people during Care Leavers Week.

“Too often, people who have been in care aren’t supported to chase their goals and fulfil their ambitions. They can lack the confidence or financial support or even someone to stand by their side and offer encouragement and moral support.

“Events like these bring everyone together in one place to provide the wraparound support to empower our young people to pursue whatever they want to achieve.”

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Labour Cabinet Member for Skills and Regeneration said:

“I was delighted to attend the Care Experienced Career Event and meet some of our young people taking their first steps into the world of work and education.

“Bespoke careers events like these bring together care experienced people who want to be understood and supported at work and some fantastic businesses who know that care experienced people are adaptable, resilient and a great asset to any business.

“I’m proud that the Council is being a strong corporate parent and doing more and more to set our young people up for success and I want to thank the businesses who see the potential in our young people, just like we do.”

If you are a care experienced young person in Sefton and want to know more about how the Council can support you with health, education, accommodation and more, please visit our website https://www.sefton.gov.uk/childrens-services/care-experienced-young-people