The new scheme is designed to help not-for-profit organisation NGC support care-experienced students take up the opportunities that are available to them by responding to the specific challenges they face, such as having no family support and entering education with no stable housing or income.
Pilots of the scheme will see three progression coordinators from Spectra, the social value agency that delivers the covenant, work across NCG colleges in Carlisle, Kidderminster, Lewisham, Newcastle, Southwark and West Lancashire.
They will work with student services staff to help them to identify, match and support students into Covenant employment and leisure opportunities.
The Care Leaver Covenant, funded by DfE, is a promise made by private, public or voluntary organisations to provide support for care leavers aged 16-25 to help them to live independently.
There are around 70,000 young people in care in the UK and approximately 10,000 leave care each year, becoming care leavers.
NCG has seven colleges across the UK that offer a wide variety of courses from basic skills to Masters degrees, and is working in partnership with employers and businesses to create employment opportunities for thousands of young people every year.
Liz Bromley, chief executive officer of NCG said: “At NCG we strive to deliver exceptional teaching, learner experience and outcomes for all, so we’re delighted to partner with Care Leaver Covenant on this important new scheme to help care leavers.
“Having Covenant Progression Coordinators within our colleges means that we can have that additional focus on the needs of our care leavers to identify opportunities for them to get the training, jobs and experiences that can help them to thrive.”
