By Juno Schwarz | Director of Fundraising
On behalf of all the young people at Drive Forward: THANK YOU!
Three months. £2,000 spent. 44 lives impacted.
Because of your generosity to the Closing the Gap Fund, 44 care-experienced young people have taken their first steps into employment, training, and independence.
Your support meant that they could attend interviews looking confident and professional, travel across London for work and training, and start new jobs without worrying about lunch or the cost of a bus fare. One young person summed it up perfectly:
“You rock!”
Today, we’d like you to meet Monica, one of the young people you’ve helped.
(We’ve changed names and identifying details to protect her privacy.)
Monica’s journey
When Monica joined Drive Forward two months ago, she was 18 and had been out of education or work for over a year. Despite strong GCSEs in English and Maths, she struggled to find direction after leaving care.
Monica entered care at 11 alongside her younger sister. After an early, positive foster placement, the sisters were unexpectedly separated. Monica was moved across London, while her sister was adopted locally. “We’d been partners in crime since forever,” Monica says. “Losing her broke something in me.”
The years that followed were turbulent. Monica moved between foster homes and alternative education settings. “I stopped caring,” she admits. But one teacher at her pupil referral unit refused to give up on her, recognising her intelligence and drive. With support, she was diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and PTSD — and began to understand herself better. Slowly, she rebuilt her confidence, finished school, and moved into supported housing.
When Monica came to Drive Forward, she told her Careers Specialist, “I want to be a paramedic. I’ve seen them save lives on the street — I want to do that.” Together, they mapped out her first steps: gaining work experience, building confidence, and earning a steady income.
Her Careers Specialist helped Monica prepare a CV, apply for a nursery front-of-house role, and practise for the interview. The Closing the Gap fund covered travel costs, lunch, and interview clothes — practical support that made all the difference.
Two weeks ago, Monica started her new job. Drive Forward continues to check in with her every week, providing mentoring, travel support, and coaching. She’s already saving for driving lessons — the next milestone on her journey to becoming a paramedic.
“I finally feel like I’m doing something good,” Monica told us recently. “This time, I want to stick with it.”
Why your support matters
The Closing the Gap Fund bridges the critical financial barriers that too often hold care-experienced young people back: travel costs, clothing, lunch, or digital access. These are everyday things — but without them, opportunities slip away.
Every pound you give helps a young person like Monica to turn ambition into action.
Thank you for believing in their potential — and helping to close the gap for good.
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