Young people leaving care will benefit from mentoring, work experience placements and life skills development, thanks to a new three-year £315,000 programme created by Cumbria Community Foundation.

Delivered in partnership with Cumbria Youth Alliance, Inspira, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council, the Brighter Futures programme will provide personalised support to 80 young adults aged between 18 and 25 over three years, designed to address the challenges faced by care-experienced young people as they transition into adulthood.

Cumbria Community Foundation secured funding from the national Care Leavers Programme managed by UK Community Foundations, a £3.6m match fund scheme funded by the Local Authorities’ Mutual Investment Trust (LAMIT), a shareholder of the UK’s biggest charities asset manager, CCLA. Match funding has been provided by a number of charitable trusts, companies and private donors, including BAE Systems and John Laing Charitable Trust.

The programme has been developed collaboratively with input from various stakeholders, including care-experienced young people themselves, and will be tailored to their individual aspirations, with the aim of enabling them to thrive in adulthood.

Cumbria has a higher proportion of care experienced young people than the rest of England and rates have continued to rise over the last few years due the impact of austerity, Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis on families.

The Brighter Futures programme has two phases:
• Firm Foundation – delivered by Cumbria Youth Alliance, the first phase will concentrate on building emotional resilience, social skills, and raising aspirations through personalised mentoring and skill-based activities.
• Flourish – delivered by Inspira, the second phase will focus on the transition to becoming work-ready by providing tailored work placements, training and employment opportunities, supported by mentors from the business community.

As well as supporting the young people themselves, the Brighter Futures programme will also provide training for employers to ensure they understand the complexities of working with those leaving the care system and make appropriate adjustments if required.

Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice & Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We’re really pleased to have secured this national funding and delighted at the response from local match funders, who are all passionate about helping young people who have left care make a positive transition into adulthood.

“It’s a sad reality that care leavers face a wide range of difficulties and challenges that most of their peers are fortunate enough not to experience. Gaps in support have been found when it comes to relationships and mentoring, education, employment and mental health, and that is why initiatives like Brighter Futures are so vital. We look forward to working with our partners and seeing the positive outcomes this new initiative will bring.”

The programme will support at least 80 young people aged 18 to 25 over three years.

Becky Wolstenholme, Chief Executive of Cumbria Youth Alliance, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Cumbria Community Foundation and other partners on the Brighter Futures programme. As the lead organisation in Cumbria representing young people and youth organisations, we understand the unique challenges faced by these young people, and we are committed to providing the support they need to succeed. This partnership will help bridge gaps in education, employment and personal development, ensuring that every care experienced young person has the opportunity to build a brighter future.”

Deborah Naylor, Area Operations Manager for Inspira, said: “Inspira is delighted to contribute to this significant project. This partnership goes beyond just offering assistance; it aims to empower young individuals to unlock their full potential. Through the collaboration with local organisations and employers, this holistic approach guarantees that young people with care experience not only gain the necessary practical skills needed for employment but also develop the confidence and resilience to pursue their career aspirations.

An integral part of the Brighter Futures project is the involvement of Cumbrian employers who can offer customised support, training, and work experience, to empower young individuals to overcome challenges and barriers to create a positive future. The project not only offers employers the chance to become mentors and role models, inspiring young individuals to strive for excellence, but also provides an invaluable opportunity to shape the future workforce, ensuring that tomorrow’s labour markets are well-equipped with skilled and confident professionals.

By participating in this project, employers can make a significant impact on the lives of young people, helping them develop the skills and confidence necessary to succeed. Inspira, a leading organisation dedicated to enhancing employability skills, will be leading on this aspect of the project and encourage employers who are interested in making a difference to get in touch with Deborah Naylor for an initial discussion – email deborah.naylor@inspira.org.uk.

Cllr Emma Williamson, Deputy Leader of Cumberland Council and Executive Member for Children and Family Wellbeing and Housing, said: “Empowering our care-experienced young people through the Brighter Futures programme not only provides them with essential skills and training but also nurtures a sense of belonging, guidance, and hope for a brighter future.”

Cllr Sue Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “It is wonderful to be working in partnership to create a programme which will make such a difference to the lives of young people with care experience.

“Transitioning into adulthood, developing life skills and making choices about the future can be challenging for anyone, but particularly for care leavers who may not have the guidance and support of relatives.

“I’m really pleased to see the Brighter Futures care leavers programme will help to ensure our young people develop the life skills and workplace experiences they need, providing them with strong foundations to reach their full potential in adulthood.”

BAE Systems Submarines Future Workforce Director Janet Garner said: “BAE Systems is delighted to be supporting the Brighter Futures programme, which helps to ensure that these care-experienced young people are given the opportunity to meet their full potential.

“This further demonstrates our commitment to support the local community, dismantle barriers to employment and optimise access to meaningful careers for our young people.”

Any businesses or individuals who would like to know more about making a financial contribution to the Brighter Futures programme should contact Annalee Holliday on 01900 820827 or email annalee@cumbriafoundation.org.