Support for Wiltshire care leavers to grow after Council pledge
The authority's signed a National Care Leavers Covenant
Wiltshire Council has pledged to continue supporting young people leaving care by signing up to a national covenant.
Ahead of Care Leavers Week, the authority has joined the Care Leavers Covenant and aims to build on the work already being done by putting policies and programmes into action to provide better futures for young people and adults in care.
The covenant is a promise made by public, private or voluntary organisations to provide support for young people between 16 and 25 years old who have experienced care, with the aim of helping them begin to live life independently.
Council leaders also want to explore defining those who have experienced care as a protected characteristic.
They have a care leaver promise in place already, which includes financial support, accommodation and practical help with things such as driving lessons and gym memberships to aid mental health.
However, council leaders want to go further.
At a recent full council meeting agreed a Corporate Parenting Strategy running to October 2026, setting out five aims to ensure care leavers can:
• Feel safe and happy in a stable home and in their community
• Be the best they can be to achieve personally and educationally and be supported with training and employment opportunities
• Ensure physical and emotional wellbeing is supported
• Positive relationships with people who are important to them and to be part of the local community where they are respected, accepted and feel included
• For their voice to be heard and for it to matter and influence decision making.
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Laura Mayes, said:
"As we mark Care Leavers Week I want to recognise our own care experienced young people in Wiltshire. Our young people have had to deal with setbacks and challenges.
“We take our responsibility as a corporate parent very seriously and we know how important it is to listen to those who have been in care and discuss with them how we can provide the support and help they need to reach their goals, to enjoy the future and to just be a young person – something many of us take for granted.
“The Care Leaver Promise was built on young people’s feedback and as we take on that next level of commitment we want to continue listening and acting on our young people’s feedback so their thoughts and opinions are fully reflected in our work.
“We have agreed our new approach as the corporate parent for children in care and those leaving care. We still have plenty to learn but more than anything we want our young people to know a young person’s circumstances doesn’t have to dictate their path and they have the right to reach to reach for the stars and achieve their goals.”