PROJECT
Care Leavers' Apprenticeship Scheme (CLAS)
FUNDING
Lincolnshire County Council pays a £13,449 starting salary for each apprentice
BACKGROUND
CLAS is run by Barnardo's as part of the leaving care service it provides for Lincolnshire County Council. It was established in 2007 by employment, training and education co-ordinator Helen Tomlinson. "Care leavers are hampered by poorer GCSE results, have often moved around a lot in secondary school and may have missed out on work experience," she explains.
"Young people often get work experience through parents' friends, but those in care don't have those connections."
ACTION
To participate in the CLAS, care leavers must first complete 13 weeks of work experience arranged by Tomlinson and her colleague, Sue Unwin. Young people are referred by their social worker, leaving care worker or college and first undertake a two-day work preparation course. They are also asked for a personal statement, outlining their employment aspirations.
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