Derby City Council is proud to announce its commitment to the Care Leaver Covenant, a national initiative aimed at providing vital support to young people leaving care. 

Established in 2018 as part of the Government’s ‘Keep on Caring’ policy, the Covenant seeks to create a brighter future for care leavers by connecting them with exclusive opportunities in education, work, wellbeing, money and their home.

Working collaboratively with more than 500 organisations across the country, the Care Leaver Covenant focuses on delivering five outcomes for care leavers:

  • Improved access to education, training, and employment.
  • Stability in their lives, ensuring they feel safe and secure.
  • Enhanced access to health and emotional support.
  • Achieving financial stability.
  • Better preparation and support for living independently.

Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:

The Care Leaver Covenant represents a significant commitment to supporting young people as they transition from care to independence. By joining this initiative, Derby City Council is reinforcing its dedication to providing essential opportunities and support in education, employment, health, and wellbeing. 

We're proud to be part of a nationwide effort that aims to ensure care leavers can achieve stability and success in their lives.

The Care Leaver Covenant is a Department for Education (DfE) programme delivered by Spectra, a social impact agency based in Wolverhampton. It is supported by a Business Council and Advisory Board and overseen by an inter-departmental Ministerial Board.

Gareth Evans, Programme Lead for the Care Leaver Covenant, said: 

We are delighted Derby City Council has become a partner, joining over 100 fellow local authorities. We support local authorities by providing practical tools, resources and partnerships that help improve outcomes for care leavers.

We work closely with local care leaving teams and our national network to offer tailored opportunities and guidance that align with local priorities.

Derby City Council already has several comprehensive offers in place to support care leavers, in addition to the statutory support they receive from the Leaving Care Service post-18. We look forward to helping the Council to build on existing offers.

For more information about the Care Leaver Covenant and support for people leaving care, go to the Care Leaver Covenant website.