Government announces apprenticeship bursaries for care leavers
Neil Puffett
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Care leavers will receive a £1,000 bursary payment if they choose to do an apprenticeship, the government has announced.
The extra financial support will be available for 16- to 24-year-olds starting an apprenticeship after 1 August. It comes in addition to the £1,000 government provides to both employers and training providers when they take on 16- to 18-year olds or 19- to 24-year-olds who were in care or who have an education, health and care plan.
Apprenticeships minister Anne Milton said: "We know those leaving care can experience additional barriers to getting an apprenticeship.
"Everyone should get a chance to be able to start an apprenticeship and change their life, so I'm really pleased that as we see how we can make the apprenticeship system work better we are able to offer this extra support for those leaving care."
Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children's Society, said it can be difficult for children leaving care to manage their finances for the first time without the family support enjoyed by other young people.
"Care leavers have told us how they have struggled to make ends meet and pay the bills after taking up an apprenticeship on low rates of pay when they cannot rely on additional support from parents such as being able to continue living in the family home," he said.
"That's why The Children's Society called on the government to offer an additional grant to all care leavers in their first year of an apprenticeship, when pay can be as low as £3.70 an hour, and we are delighted that ministers have listened.
"We hope this grant will make apprenticeships a more viable option for young people looking to find work after leaving care and help set them on the path to a brighter future."
