Adjusting to independent adult life can be a major challenge for young people leaving foster or council care. Cumberland Council has launched an innovative hub to help young people start their futures on the right track.
Friday 19 January saw Cumberland Council launch its flagship Care Leavers’ Hub in Workington.
Badged as #CoffeeAndACraic, the Hub is targeted at care experienced young people aged between 16 and 25.
Set up in recognition of the needs of care experienced young people as they leave the care system and begin to navigate adulthood, the Hub is run in partnership with Cumbria Youth Alliance and other organisations to create a one-stop-shop for advice and support.
Whether leaving foster or local authority care, care experienced young people currently receive the support of a Personal Advisor. The council’s new innovative Hub goes above and beyond, by bringing together all the services young people might need in one place that is safe, friendly and accessible.
The one-stop-shop offer includes Personal Advisors who will be on hand to provide guidance around any aspect of their lives. Joining them will be advisors from the council’s Housing team, Cumbria Youth Alliance, local colleges and the DWP.
The Hub also provides an opportunity to meet other young people who are care experienced and develop and strengthen their own friendship support networks.
Friday’s launch in Workington saw more than 10 young people welcomed to the new service and was opened by Cllr Emma Williamson, Executive Member for Children’s and Family Wellbeing and Housing at Cumberland Council.
Cllr Williamson said:
“For care experienced young people, entering adulthood can be a daunting experience. We want to make it as easy as possible for our young people to get the support and advice they need as they create the foundations for their adult lives.
“This is about putting our young people’s needs at the heart of our services. Together with our partner organisations, we’ve created a welcoming and relaxed space for our young people to get all the guidance they need in one place.
“We’re looking to offer ‘#CoffeeAndACraic’ Care Leavers’ Hubs throughout the Cumberland area so that all care experienced young people in Cumberland can access this fantastic support no matter what area they live in.”
Martin Birch, Director of Children and Family Wellbeing at Cumberland Council added:
“Our new Care Leavers’ Hub is a fantastic opportunity for our care experienced young people to not only access support from a range of professional services in one place, but also to meet other care experienced young people. Peer to peer support and a network of friends who understand your experiences is crucial to the wellbeing of young people.
“This is just one of the ways we are looking at redesigning the way our services are delivered to put the needs of Cumberland’s children and families at the heart of our offer.”
One of the young people attending the launch of the Care Leavers’ Hub, Sophie, said:
“I am excited about the hub; it will be so good to be able pop in and see a Personal Adviser when I need it instead of having to make an appointment. I am also looking forward to being able to meet some other Care Experienced Young People and have somewhere we can hang out together.”
Kyle, another young person attending the launch, said:
“I think that this is a really good idea and will come and see my Personal Adviser here, it will be good to see other people at the same time as my Personal Adviser and have their support to speak with them.”
More information
For anyone who could benefit from attending the Hub, it runs weekly 11am and 3pm every Friday. It is run on a drop-in basis, with no appointments necessary, with food and refreshments available. Find us at Cumbria Youth Alliance, Town Hall Community Hub, Oxford Street, Workington CA14 2RS
To find out more about the offer for Care Leavers in Cumberland, visit: Cumberland.gov.uk/careleavers