Barnardo's calls for 20,000 care leaver apprenticeships

Ahead of GCSE results day tomorrow (20 August), the charity has urged government to do more to help 16- to-18-year-old care leavers to give them a fair chance of getting on to the job ladder.

According to Department for Education (DfE) figures, around 10,000 young people leave care in England every year.

Barnardo’s said setting aside 20,000 places would account for less than one per cent of new apprenticeships.

Javed Khan, chief executive of Barnardo’s, said: “Young people leaving the care system have ambition and talents.

“They want to work, to be financially independent and contribute to the country’s economy.

“But too often, care leavers find the door to employment closed.

“Getting an apprenticeship and proving themselves in work can open up the door to a successful career instead of a dependence on benefits.”

The government has previously pledged to create three million more apprenticeships by 2020 and is looking to expand the number of degree apprenticeships, which offer a mix of higher and vocational education.

The charity said the government could offer larger payments to organisations taking on young people from the care system as an incentive.

This, in turn, would help to grow the apprenticeship market, as well as contribute towards a reduction in youth unemployment.

Barnardo’s also said that care leavers' potential should be taken into account rather than just their qualifications. DfE data showing less than half of care leavers pass five GCSEs and moving between family placements three times or more a year can disrupt care leavers' education.

“Young people are the future of Britain’s economy,” Khan added. “They must be invested in and given the right support to get into work.”