=20

Thu Apr 24 15:16 =C2=B7 Login = =C2=B7 Register= =20

Find out about other community stories on:

Are you a charity, voluntary or community group needing free help = with your=20 PR? If so, click the logo below:

BID TO BOOST PROSPECTS OF YOUNG CARE LEAVERS

By Rosamond Hutt, Community Newswire

SOCIAL Care Leicestershire, 22 Apr 2008 - 17:47

A Leicestershire charity has begun offering work placements to young = care=20 leavers as part of a bid to help them cope outside the system.

The Flying Fish project, set up last year by Leicestershire Cares, = now has 19=20 organisations taking on young care leavers for work experience.

Of the 15 youngsters who completed their placements, six have found = jobs, 10=20 have gone into training, and one is at university.

The project was launched as part of a drive to improve the prospects = of=20 so-called looked-after children, many of whom receive no further support = when=20 they leave care at 16.

Two-fifths of children in care achieve no GCSEs and more than 40% of = young=20 offenders having been through the care system.

Their plight is currently being looked into by a select committee of = MPs.

In addition, the Children and Young Person's Bill which is going = through=20 Parliament aims to provide better support to young care leavers.

Monica Kimche, director of Leicestershire Cares, said she was shocked = by the=20 "terrible stories" of teenagers having to fend for themselves after = leaving=20 care.

"They are suddenly expected to do everything, including putting food = on the=20 table and paying the rent. The lack of care they receive is quite = striking," she=20 said.

"It leaves many of them vulnerable to homelessness, offending = behaviour, drug=20 and alcohol problems and health issues, among other things.

"We realised that we could give them some support by helping them get = a job=20 or into education or training through work experience."

One of the young people who completed a work placement through the = Flying=20 Fish project, Jamie Lee Stone, has managed to turn his life around.

When he was referred to the project, the 19-year-old was unemployed = and was=20 staying on friends' floors unable to afford accommodation of his = own.

After finishing his placement at Bradgate Bakery in Leicester where = he worked=20 as a production operative, Jamie was taken on by a recruitment agency, = has=20 become engaged and is looking for his own place.

He said: "On the first day I thought what am I doing, up at 5am? But = I was=20 amazed I liked it so much from day one. The people were so nice and I = have made=20 a lot of friends. The experience has changed my life."

end

=E2=86=91=20 Top of page

Find out more about how the Community Newswire works by reading our = guidelines.

Journalists can access stories via PA's wire service or online at pa-mediapoint.press.net

The Community Newswire newsdesk can be contacted on 0870 124 0866

We look forward to your next visit.

Delivered by: