Thanks to an extremely generous donation from retailer NEXT young care leavers in Wrexham will be able to celebrate their achievements during National Care Leavers Week!
The high street retailer has donated £1000 which will allow those leaving care and unaccompanied child asylum seekers aged 15+ to take part in events and activities from cooking, quizzes to activities such as bowling.
Cllr Rob Walsh, Lead member for Children’s Services, said, “This is an extremely generous donation and one for which we are very grateful.
“Their generosity means that these young people can take part in National Care Leavers Week 2024 in order to take a look at their achievements, often under very extremely difficult circumstances, to see how far they have come.
“Staff who work with young carers work hard to create a smooth transition to adulthood, improve opportunities and gain independence skills as well as to support them to seek training, employment and appropriate accommodation. Their experience and support is invaluable to care leavers, many of whom have to transition into adulthood very quickly.”
Care Leavers Week 2024
Care Leavers Week takes between Monday 28 October and Sunday 3 November 2024.
This year the young people voted for the theme “All of Us, We are One”.
This theme gives young care leavers the opportunity to challenge the perceptions many have of them and raise awareness of the issues those in care face, whilst also celebrating the incredible things many go on to achieve. Organised by Become, a national charity for children in care and young care leavers, this year they are calling on everyone to CARE:
- Celebrate care leavers
- Amplify their voices
- Raise awareness of challenges
- Encourage change in policy and practice.
With limited choices available to around the young people who leave care each year are over three times more likely than their peers to be not in education, employment or training, and it’s estimated that 26% of the homeless population have care experience.
However, many go on to achieve incredible things, working past the stereotypes and the stigma with their resilience and determination shining through.
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