Challenges facing care leavers in the North West

Care leavers face many challenges and questions to consider when they become old enough to leave foster care.

While there have been improvements in providing support until their early to mid-20s – in the form of the Staying Put Scheme, for instance – there are still individual struggles that young people who lack a support network often face.

Here’s some information on a couple of challenges facing young care leavers in the North West from us at Beacon Fostering.

Liverpool care leavers conference

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool devised this event in September 2024 to celebrate and recognise young people in the city who grew up in foster care – among them a young woman called Mollieanne.

She talked about the stigmas associated with foster children, and her struggles with navigating life as someone who lived in foster care and would have faced judgement for it like so many others.

The Lord Mayor also set up a £100,000 fund to help care leavers as they transition into adulthood.

Care leavers bursary

In March 2024, businessman Simon Sadler provided a £1.5m bursary to the University of Manchester. This would be used for undergraduate students from care backgrounds, to help them with acquiring accommodation and other essentials needed for their university studies.

The institution is also providing these students with named contacts who will act as mentors, supporting them in their higher education journeys, help them find other care-experienced young people and ask questions and listen to their concerns.

If you’re interested in providing foster care in Liverpool or other areas of the North West, get in touch with our team today to find out how we can help.