Closing the Gap - Empower Care Leavers in London

Over the last three months, your support enabled 24 young people to take the next step on their journey from care to career; with 8 individuals receiving repeat assistance (ranging from two to five payments). The total range of funds provided was between £20 and £289, with an average payment of £68 across 34 disbursements. The Hardship Fund was utilised six times, offering immediate relief in emergency situations, with an average payment of £43. Notably, no individuals required repeat additional hardship support (e.g. for household bills or food), highlighting the effectiveness of addressing urgent, one-time financial needs. 

On behalf of all young people supported, Thank You! Here are some of their stories. 

Jane’s Journey into a Career in Law: In 2023, Jane joined Drive Forward Foundation just as she began her Law degree. Despite receiving student finance, it wasn’t enough to cover her living costs, so she needed to find work alongside her studies. With the help of Ahmed, her Career Specialist at Drive Forward, they worked together to create law-specific and general CVs. While Jane received offers for some hospitality roles, the locations were impractical, so she didn’t take the roles.Though she hadn’t yet found a job, Jane remained fully engaged with Drive Forward’s services, attending job fairs, social events, and insight days. After a year of persistence, Jane received a job offer as a support worker in September 2024, assisting people with disabilities and the elderly. However, with her first pay check not arriving until the end of the month, she needed financial support to cover travel and lunch costs.Jane’s story highlights the importance of flexible financial support for young people in a similar position who are striving to build their future while overcoming financial challenges. The Closing the Gap Fund provided the vital support Jane needed, allowing her to start her new job without worrying about choosing between meals and getting to work. Now, Jane is more motivated than ever to continue her Law degree and continues to thrive at Drive Forward events. 

Sammy’s Journey Balancing Two Part-Time Jobs, a Nursing Degree and Homelessness: Sammy joined Drive Forward in June 2023, knowing she would begin her nursing degree that September. From the start, she was highly motivated, attending numerous Drive Forward events, particularly those related to the NHS. However, like many students, Sammy found that student finance wasn’t enough to cover her expenses. With the help of Ahmed, her Careers Specialist at DFF, she secured her a part-time job at Pret A Manger, where her travel and lunch were covered. Later, Sammy took on a second job to supplement her income, but balancing two part-time roles alongside her degree became overwhelming, especially as she faced a housing crisis.During this time, Sammy became homeless. Ahmed worked tirelessly to secure her emergency housing, but complications arose as there was confusion over her eligibility, requiring proof of whether she was a care-leaver or care-experienced. Despite securing temporary accommodation, the high rent and instability made it difficult for Sammy to manage her studies. In June 2024, under the weight of these challenges, she left her nursing course.Ahmed continued to support Sammy, helping her find a new job with a hospitality agency in July 2024. The Closing the Gap Fund was instrumental in covering her travel and lunch costs, ensuring she could sustain her new job. Fortunately, Ahmed's efforts with housing were successful, and Sammy was finally granted the duty of care, entitling her to permanent housing.Although this was a significant relief, Sammy still faced financial difficulties. One day, while Sammy was at work, an unexpected direct debit left her without enough money for food or to get home. She reached out to Ahmed, who quickly arranged support through the Hardship Fund, helping her bridge the gap until her next pay check. Now, Sammy is focused on her future, searching for her next steps and exploring new career opportunities. 

The Closing the Gap Fund and Hardship Fund have proven to be a crucial lifeline for young people facing financial challenges while pursuing their education and careers. Both Jane and Sammy's stories illustrate the transformative impact of this assistance, helping them navigate financial hardships and stay focused on their future goals. Whether covering immediate needs like travel and lunch costs or offering emergency relief through the Hardship Fund, the support provided has made a tangible difference in their lives. 

Moving forward, the Closing the Gap Fund and your generous support will continue to play an integral role in ensuring that young people like Jane and Sammy can remain resilient and motivated in the face of adversity, ultimately helping them to build successful and sustainable futures. 

Thank you for your continued support & believing in their potential!

Your Drive Forward Team

Dear Care Leaver Champion, 

In the last 3 months, 37 of our young people had to access the Closing the Gap funding, which you have helped provide, which seems to have stabilized quarter-on-quarter.Our Careers Specialists tend to work with around 40 young people at a time: some of these will sign up to Drive Forward’s programme, get help to become employment-ready and make job applications, and very quickly move into employment. At the same time, some will need a greater level of supportover a longer period. Around 50% of those who come to us move into employment, and around half can only take the jobs they are offered because the Closing-the-Gap fund helps them to pay their bills in the weeks before they are paid for the first time. 

Benedict’s journey to stability and success 

Benedict (not his real name) was a care leaver who had been in prison before he came to Drive Forward at 21.He was aiming for a career in construction, but as his Career Specialist got to know him, it was clear he had the kind of personality and confidence which would make him a success in a sales-related field. Benedict landed a job with a marketing and sales agency, but it necessitated travel to several locations, and he needed some short-term help with travel costs.Access to Closing-the-Gap funds has made all the difference and Benedict is now getting establishedin his new role. 

Keeping the ball rolling: Victoria 

Closing-the-Gap has also helped Victoriastay in her job in hospitality with a major London hotel chain. After a false start, Victoria’s Career Specialist helped her to understand what her new employer would require in her role, and how to manage the demands of her new schedule. A weekly payment from the Closing-the-Gap fund to pay her travel costs for the first month has helped her keep to a schedule and get through to her first salary payment. 

Nicholas: taking the next step 

Nicholas was in a supervisor’s role at a DIY store when he came to Drive Forward, looking for new employment experience. Closing-the-Gap meant he was able to take a job in hospitality where his managerial experience is helping him gain skills across the business and make a wide-ranging contribution for his employer. 

Pathways into employment 

At the end of last year, DFF began a training initiative to assist young people with an interest in working in the construction sector to achieve their CSCS qualification and this led to the provision of training for a full cohort and12 young people gaining their qualification and moving into employment. Following thissuccess,we are running an analogous course for those young people who wish to gain theirlicense to work in security. The course is two weeks long, involving both classroom learning, exams andphysical training, and mustthen be followed by in-role training before a license is issued. There has been a great response from our young people to this opportunity and we expect the course, which has 15 places to be at capacity. Closing-the-Gap funds will help support them to attend the course and go through their training to qualify. 

Links:

• Visit our website
• About CSCS course
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