Supporting care leavers
We are working in partnership with Peterborough City Council to provide accommodation and support for local young care leavers to help them to successfully navigate the transition to independent living.
We have allocated a three bedroom home to house three young people and experienced teams from CKH and PCC will be on hand to support them on a day to day basis. The teams will help the care leavers with understanding the rights and responsibilities of a housing tenancy, as well as with managing their finances and rent accounts.
They will also help the residents to access training and become ready for work, as well as looking after their homes. The residents will receive support in building a wide array of life skills, from relationships and consent to cooking and cleaning, to ensure they have the best possible start in their adult life.
We are working with Peterborough City Council's children's services team for referrals into the service. The service is open to 18-25 year old care leavers and they will be able to stay in the service for up to two years, when they should be able to manage a tenancy of their own.
Our Chief Executive, Claire Higgins, said of the service: “I am really pleased that we are able to work with PCC to offer this support to vulnerable young people. Care leavers have often lacked the stability and support that so many young people take for granted, and I am thrilled that we will be able to give this to the residents of this house. Our brilliant team are able to use our experience and knowledge of housing, getting into work, managing finances and general life skills to really give these young people the very best opportunity for success. This is a cause that is very close to my heart and I hope that this is the first of many such opportunities that we are able to offer to young people leaving the care system”