Youth charity receives £1.6m boost to support unemployed care leavers

Charity 1625 Independent People (1625IP) has been awarded funding by Youth Futures Foundation and the West of England Combined Authority to extend its Reboot West programme until March 2025.

The programme will work in partnership with the leaving care and employment and skills teams across four local authorities in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, offering coaching, training and bespoke careers support to 150 care leavers.

• Blog: Five key approaches to supporting young people into employment

• Analysis: How Durham aids young jobless

Latest government statistics on Universal Credit show that 450,000 16- to 24-year-olds are currently listed as "searching for work" – nearly double the figure in March 2020. 

Jordyn, a young person on the Reboot West project said: “My Reboot coach nurtured me and helped me to regain my confidence and independence, as well as helping me to build up my self-worth and self-respect to prepare me for my future career. I have been so lucky to experience care in such a beautiful and fulfilling way, not only with the support of Reboot but also with support from past carers and with the support of my family.”

Anna Smee, chief executive of Youth Futures added: “Young care leavers are more likely to become disengaged from the labour market because of lack of support at transition points in their life.

“They may have additional emotional and wellbeing needs that need to be met to build confidence, skills and move into paid employment. That’s why we’re supporting 1625IP’s holistic approach. We’re committed to investing in potential to identify ‘what works’ to initiate new ways of working that could be scaled up nationally.”