Young care-leavers need learning Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 17:33

The positive impact that learning can have on the lives of young care-leavers was discussed at a NIACE Conference on Thursday, 15 January 2009.

Young adults leaving care are over-represented in prison and are more likely to be unemployed, single parents, mental health service users and homeless. About one-third of them are not in education, employment or training at the age of 19 - compared with just one in ten of all young adults.

NIACE's conference in London illustrated how learning can support young adults leaving care to lead more effective lives.

Making the transition took place in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Patron of NIACE and was aimed at people working with young adults in and leaving care.

The conference discussed:

• the young adults who leave care and succeed in education and go on to make successful transitions;
• how to support young care leavers in continuing with their education and enabling them to realise their ambitions; and
• learning from other professionals about the most successful ways of encouraging and supporting these vulnerable young adults.

Delegates also heard from Dean Maquire, aged 18, from Oldham. Dean left home when he was 15. His school attendance was very poor, he was using drugs and alcohol and was arrested on a number of occasions.

But the support he got from the Depaul Trust2 is an example of how young care-leavers can get their lives back on track.

Dean said:

I feel great now. The Depaul Trust helped me a lot, they gave me the wake up call I needed and they made sure I attended college at the beginning. I'm doing an Access to Foundation Hairdressing which includes a work placement at a leading hair salon. I also passed my NVQ Level 1 literacy in October with 87%.

He continued:

If I wasn't doing what I am now I would probably still be homeless and taking drugs. I definitely wouldn't be in college. But now I even know that when I qualify as a hairdresser I then want to go on and do a course in fashion design.

Brenda Ainsley, Senior Assistant Director at NIACE, said

"The transition into life after school can be difficult for many young adults. It can be challenging enough for those who have the support of their families, but for many young care-leavers the range of options, routes and pathways can seem like a barrier rather than a 'route map'."

She continued, "Colleges and learning providers have a crucial role to play as less than one in ten of young adults in care achieve five or more GCSEs at grade A*-C, compared with a national figure of almost six in ten.

"If we are to ensure that all young care-leavers achieve their full potential we need to improve their attainment at school and help them to access education, training and/or employment. Making the transition will encourage all those involved in provision to work for much better outcomes for this vulnerable group of young adults."