From Care2Work launched in Somerset (From Bridgwater Mercury)

From Care2Work launched in Somerset

1:45pm Monday 23rd August 2010 in

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PEOPLE leaving care have significantly poorer prospects than their peers when it comes to education, training and employment, a Somerset organisation said this week.

Somerset County Council and Connect South-West say that at 19 years old, 29% of people leaving care are not in employment, education or training (NEET), compared to 10 per cent of the general population.

The two organisations are now working with the National Care Advisory Service on an initiative called ‘From Care2Work’.

It aims to narrow the gap between care leavers and their peers by working with national employers and local authorities to offer opportunities for work experience and mentoring to support care leavers into work.

Care2Work will support care leavers to gain skills and qualifications through:

• Employer visits

• Work experience placements

• Open days/visits to the workplace

• Taster sessions

• Skills building sessions/courses

• Apprenticeship placements.