LETTER: Life chances of care leavers

Barnardo’s often acts as a first port of call for young people who don’t have parents to rely on, providing emotional support, accommodation and employment opportunities, for care leavers.

Many care leavers have a disrupted education, when multiple care placements mean missed months of school or changing schools at a crucial time.

Just 14 per cent of care leavers achieve five or more A*-C GCSEs compared with 65 per cent of their peers.

Some 40 per cent of care leavers are not in employment, education or training (NEET) compared to only 14 per cent of 19-24-year-olds, and just six per cent of care leavers go into higher education compared to 25 per cent of their peers.

Young people who’ve grown up in care can go on to do amazing things, but they don’t always have someone to nurture and develop them.

Theresa May can show she means business by making the Keep on Caring strategy, which aims to improve the life chances of care leavers, become a reality.

In her own words, she must make sure the country works for everyone, not just the privileged few.

Jonathan Whalley

Director, Barnardo’s South-East and Anglia Region,

Tanners Lane,

Barkingside, Ilford,

Essex IG6 1QG

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