Care Leaver Covenant: Supporting Young People Beyond Foster Care
The Care Leaver Covenant is a national commitment designed to improve the lives of young people leaving care. For foster carers, fostering agencies, and professionals working in children’s services, understanding the Care Leaver Covenant is really important to providing meaningful, long-term support to care experienced young people as they transition into adulthood.
When a child or young person leaves foster care, the challenges they face can be significant. Care leavers often experience barriers related to housing, education, employment, finances, and emotional wellbeing. The Care Leaver Covenant brings together public services, fostering agencies, local authorities, charities, and businesses to offer opportunities, stability, and continued guidance during this crucial stage of life.
For foster carers, the Covenant reinforces the idea that fostering does not end when a young person turns 18. Many foster parents continue to play a key role as a trusted adult, offering emotional support, life skills guidance, and encouragement. Foster carers are often the consistent figure in a care leaver’s life, helping them navigate independence while maintaining a sense of belonging.
Fostering agencies like Beacon Fostering support the Care Leaver Covenant by advocating for improved outcomes for care experienced young people. This includes helping care leavers access education, training, apprenticeships, and employment pathways. Many organisations signed up to the Covenant offer priority interviews, mentoring schemes, work placements, and financial assistance, helping care leavers build confidence and independence.
Housing is another critical area addressed by the Care Leaver Covenant. Secure accommodation can be one of the biggest concerns for young people leaving foster care. Through partnerships with housing providers and local councils, care leavers can access safe, stable housing options that reduce the risk of homelessness and instability.
Emotional wellbeing and mental health support are also central to the Covenant. Young people leaving care may struggle with anxiety, identity, attachment, or past trauma. Continued access to therapeutic support, personal advisers, and trusted adults ensures care leavers are not left to cope alone.
For foster carers, understanding the Care Leaver Covenant helps them better prepare young people for adulthood. This can include supporting budgeting skills, independent living tasks, emotional resilience, and career aspirations. Foster parents play a crucial role in helping young people believe in their potential and feel supported long after they leave foster care.
Ultimately, the Care Leaver Covenant represents a shared responsibility. By working together, fostering agencies, foster carers, and community partners can ensure care leavers feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. It sends a clear message – care-experienced young people matter, and their futures deserve ongoing commitment and care.
Would you like to become a foster carer? Join Beacon Fostering by clicking the link below