National success for team supporting care leavers
The team supporting young people leaving care in St Helens Borough are enjoying double celebrations after a national award win and expanding their hub for care leavers.
Article date: December 13th 2024
The Futures Team support young people who have experienced care as they transition through to adulthood and their dedication saw them pick up Care Leavers Team of the Year from the National Care Leavers Benchmarking Forum.
Their success comes as they have just expanded The Hub as the service providing a place for care leavers to meet, get help and support has proved so popular. The expansion has been designed working with those using the service to make sure it continues to meet their needs.
Councillor Nova Charlton, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said: "We are so proud of the Futures Team for this richly deserved national recognition for the amazing work they do every day for young people who have experienced care during their life. They really do go above and beyond and no two days are the same for them as judges heard how the Futures Team can turn their hand to everything from DIY, demonstrating key life skills, advocating on their behalf to being a support for them in their time of need and celebrating young people's achievements." "
The Hub operates a 'never closed' approach and provides everything from clothes and food banks, emotional and practical support and has been used by more than 200 young people since it opened.
Councillor Charlton added: "The team are clearly passionate about the work they do and will regularly go above and beyond, working at all hours to provide our young people with the support they need and that helps them go on to become truly independent adults. We know they do such amazing work and OFSTED recognised that last year in our inspection by rating the support for care leavers as outstanding. This latest national award is further proof of the wonderful work they do."
The Futures Team are still collecting donations for young care leavers up to the age of 21 to make sure they receive Christmas gifts and hampers to support them through the Christmas period.
You can find out more about how and what to donate with drop off points across the borough open until Monday 16th December online here: www.sthelens.gov.uk/christmasgiftappeal
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