Thank you for contacting me about young people leaving care.
Children in care face unique challenges when growing up and becoming adults. I am encouraged that the Department for Education (DfE) is committed to ensuring these children and young people receive the best possible care that enables them to thrive.
Since 2014, local authorities have been under a duty to provide financial support to enable young people in foster care to remain with their foster family to age 21 in a Staying Put arrangement. In 2014 'Staying Put' was introduced which helps looked after children stay with their foster carers after their 18th birthday, I welcome that since its introduction the Government has provided £174 million of funding to support local implementation. The Department for Education has committed to continuing to invest £99.8 million in the programme over the next three years. Further, I welcome that the Department has recently announced funding of £36 million over the next three years to extend the 'Staying Close' programme so that more care leavers get move-on accommodation and support from a trusted adult. I understand that the Independent Review of Children's Social Care has also recommended that 'Staying Close' should be a legal entitlement and extended to aged 23. The Department is now considered the recommendations carefully and will publish an implementation strategy later this year.I welcome that an additional £3.2million is being provided to fund intensive support to care leavers at high risk of homelessness, as part of the Government's Rough Sleeping strategy.
Significant action is being taken by Government to help care leavers, but it is important that non-Government actors also get involved. As such it is very encouraging that 155 organisations are now signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant, including businesses, charities, public bodies. A further 85 organisations are in the process of developing their offer of practical help. I would urge others to follow suit and identify what opportunities they can offer to care leavers.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.