Care-leavers are among the most vulnerable groups in society. Statistics from First Key show that:
- More than half of young people (59 per cent) still leave care at 16 to 17, although there has been an increase in the numbers leaving care at 18 or over
- Seventy per cent of care-leavers leave with no GCSE or GNVQ qualifications
- The rate of unemployment for 16- to 24-year-old care-leavers is estimated at between 50 and 80 per cent Legislation is now in place to help care-leavers on their transition into adulthood. The Children (Leaving Care) Act came into effect from October 2001. The Act aims to ensure that local authorities assess and meet the needs of eligible people aged 16 to 17 who are in care or care-leavers. Wherever the young person lives, the local authorities must keep in touch with care-leavers until they are at least 21. Every eligible young person in care, when they turn 16, will be offered a pathway plan. The plan is designed to address the changes that take place when young people begin to make the difficult move to adulthood.
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