Education, training and employment for care leavers

We want you to succeed in your education, training and employment. We want to make sure you have the support to achieve your goals in life.

We will ask you how you are doing and be ready to celebrate your achievements with you.

We will offer you:

Careers information and advice, such as:

  • help to develop your CV
  • advice about job interviews, including what you might wear

Support to meet your transport costs when travelling to:

  • training
  • school or college
  • apprenticeships
  • job interviews

This is available until your bursary, salary or other income supports these costs.

Opportunities for work experience and voluntary work.

Support to buy tools, equipment, essential clothing, and books, when you start your training or new work opportunity.

Support if you choose to go to university, such as:

  • helping you choose the right course
  • tuition fees and maintenance loans
  • travel costs at the start and end of term
  • help with where to live during the holidays

The chance to attend and help organise celebration events when young people achieve education, training and employment milestones.

Support to get qualifications in maths and English. These are free of charge to all adults. In Bracknell you can do this at the Bracknell Open Learning Centre.

Help with expenses

The law says we must help with expenses linked with employment, education and training. In particular we will:

  • provide you with a Higher Education (HE) bursary of at least £2,000 if you go to university
  • help you find somewhere to stay during university holidays (or funding for this if you would prefer to make your own arrangements) if you are in full time HE or full time residential further education and your term time accommodation is not available

Getting support

You will still be entitled to support from the Virtual School. You will access this support through Elevate Bracknell Forest.

Elevate offer face to face advice at:

  • Look Ahead - Tuesdays from 1pm to 3pm
  • Braccan Walk youth hub - Thursdays by appointment

You can contact Elevate by:

Elevate are working with the John Lewis Partnership to develop a care leavers pathway to employment. Contact Elevate or your personal advisor for more information.

Support Out of Hours

Family Action trust provide a dedicated support line for care leavers who need someone to talk too between 6pm and midnight everyday.

You can contact Family Action by:

  • phone: 0808 802 0222
  • text message: 07860 065 169
  • web chat on the Family Action website

Contact information

Leaving Care Service