We are pleased to announce that we have received grant from the Big Lottery Fund Awards for All scheme to deliver Resilient for Life project. Resilient for Life is the project developed and designed by Children in Care and Care Leavers. The project commenced in September 2023.  The aim is to enable resilience as well as support mental wellbeing by providing support for future coping mechanisms within a safe space. Through age appropriate creative and fun workshops, Children in care and Care Leavers will be equipped with coping strategies for practical living including emotional, practical financial literacy, social independence skill for living independently.

Compared to their peers, children in care encounter a plethora of additional challenges. Reports suggest that this vulnerable group are more likely to have poorer outcomes, mental health difficulties, homelessness, substance misuse as adults, teenage pregnancies become teenage parents, not go on to access further and higher education, be a young person not in employment or training, suffer abuse, experience isolation and be victims of exploitation. Despite these challenges, these children and young people are offered the same opportunities to succeed in life as their peers.

In order for them to have successful futures, the focus should be on their strengths and capabilities for the achievement of successful life outcomes. Resilient for Life will start building the resilience of ‘looked after’ children before they leave care. By supporting them early, they will be better prepared for adulthood by learning new skills to reach their full potential. We also aim to strengthen the community around our beneficiaries as the project will complements the roles of everyone involved i.e. professionals, foster carers and local authorities.