Care Leaver Covenant appoints first care-experienced chair
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
The Care Leaver Covenant’s advisory board will be chaired by a care leaver for the first time since its launch in 2018, it has been announced.
Zahra Printer, 26, who has been involved with the covenant since its launch, joined the advisory board last year and has now been promoted to chair.
Printer, who spent time in care during her childhood, also works at the Department for Education advising on policy impacting care leavers and volunteers as an independent visitor for looked-after children.
She replaces former chair Mark Rogers who has moved to a new role as director of legacy at the covenant.
The covenant is a national inclusion programme for care leavers funded by DfE.
It aims to tackle the disadvantages that young people aged 16-25 face when leaving care and helps them to live independently, according to the project.
Private, public and voluntary sector organisations sign up to the covenant and help provide opportunities for care leavers including employment, education and training, safety and security, health, financial independence and independent living.
Printer said: “Ensuring children and young people are heard is of absolute importance. This is a chance to ensure that the views and experiences of care leavers are embedded throughout the covenant.
“By taking on this role, I want to continue to champion the care leaver community and ensure the voices of care leavers are central to supporting the ambitions the covenant seeks to achieve. I’m looking forward to seeing what changes we can make for the better.
“This is a role I am very passionate about having spent time in care myself. I hope as part of the advisory board I have been able to influence change and empower young people and hope I can continue to do so as chair.”
