County staff club together to give present to all leaving care
IT’S National Care Leavers Week and staff from Lancashire County Council have been making donations to support the national initiative.
So far, they have raised more than £1,700 and hope to raise even more to ensure that young people leaving care have a present this Christmas.
There is usually a collection where staff are invited to donate gifts. However, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the authority has set up a Go Fund Me donations page this year instead. Members of the public can also make a donation on this page.
There are 1,161 young people leaving Lancashire County Council’s care this year. The types of care they are leaving may include foster care and placements at residential homes or with family members.
The authority’s children’s services team ensures they have the support they need as they begin to live independently.
County Councillor
Phillippa Williamson, cabinet member for children, young people and schools, said: “Leaving care can be a very difficult time and our social workers and support officers do a tremendous job preparing young people for independent living as they become adults.
“With setting up in their own home, struggling to make ends meet and coping with the Covid-19 restrictions, it will be a challenging time for them. Many care leavers have little or no contact with their families and don’t even get presents to open at Christmas.
“As a gesture of goodwill, our staff are making generous and kind donations to ensure that care leavers have gifts this Christmas, despite the coronavirus pandemic affecting things this year.
“I’m pleased they have carried on their tradition of supporting care leavers by setting up the Go Fund Me page. We’d encourage everyone to visit and make a donation to ensure all our care leavers get a present this Christmas.”
There is a team of front-line social workers and personal assistants who specialise in supporting care leavers in Lancashire.
Brendan Lee, head of service for looked-after children and care leavers, said: “Our team does a fantastic job of supporting care leavers in the community day in, day out. We look at what they need and tailor the best support to meet their needs. The care leavers themselves also develop a strong support network for each other.
“However, Christmas is a time when we want to provide them with a gift too. We hope to get enough money to buy a good gift for all our care leavers for Christmas.
“If you’d like to contribute, please visit our Go Fund Me page.”
Donations can be made until Sunday, November 8.