Closing the Gap - Empower Care Leavers in London

Dear friend,

Four months. £1,826.21 invested. 22 young people supported.

Thanks to your generosity to the Closing the Gap Fund, 22 care-experienced young people have been able to take important steps towards employment, training and greater independence.

For a young person starting an internship, travelling to a new workplace or going for their first interview, a relatively small cost can become a very real barrier. Timely support can make the difference between being offered an opportunity and being able to take it.

That is where the Closing the Gap Fund makes a difference.

Thanks to you, we have helped young people with practical costs including travel across London, lunch during their first few weeks of work and appropriate clothes for an interview. These payments are often small, but at a crucial moment they can take away a worry that might otherwise stand in the way.

And this financial support does not stand alone. It sits alongside the longer-term relationship each young person builds with their Careers Specialist – helping them develop skills, grow in confidence and work towards a stable, independent future.

Your support helps make those next steps possible. Thank you.

Here are two of their stories. Thank you for believing in them. 

(Please note that names and other identifying details have been changed.) 

Joe’s story:

Joe started working with his Career Specialist in August 2025, as he prepared to study BSc Economics with Marketing at university.

He wanted to make the most of university while also gaining experience for his future career. Through Drive Forward, Joe attended careers fairs and networking opportunities, including events with Janus Henderson Investors and Raymond James, where he built confidence and got an insight into the finance and marketing sectors.

Then Joe was offered a summer internship with The Crown Estate. It was a valuable opportunity but getting to and from the internship came with an immediate cost.

The Closing the Gap Fund helped cover Joe’s travel expenses, meaning he could take up the internship without worrying about how he would manage the additional cost.

Joe quickly made an impression. The team described him as a “real standout” for his proactiveness and curiosity. He confidently asked questions in meetings, looked for ways to contribute and showed a real willingness to learn.

He was subsequently offered an extension to his internship.

For Joe, the support helped remove one practical barrier at an important moment – allowing him to take up an opportunity, gain experience and build connections that could help shape his future career.

Ava’s story:

Ava started working with Drive Forward in July 2025, after a friend recommended our services.

She was heading into her final year of university and beginning to think seriously about what would come next. With support from her Careers Specialist, Ava worked on her personal statement and prepared for interviews before successfully applying for a Civil Service internship.

At first, she wasn't sure whether to apply while still finishing university. But the timing worked in her favour. The onboarding process took almost six months, meaning Ava could start the internship right after graduating.

This summer, she began an 18-month Executive Officer internship with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Ava was excited to start her new role, but it also meant needing to cover costs before she had received her first pay. The Closing the Gap Fund helped cover Ava’s travel and lunch during her first month, taking some of the financial pressure away as she settled into the role.

For Ava, this support helped bridge the gap between university and employment – making those first few weeks of starting work a little easier and allowing her to focus on starting her career.

The difference your support makes

The young people we work with bring the ambition, talent and determination. Closing the Gap helps remove barriers that stand in their way.

Thank you for your ongoing support and believing in the potential of young people! 

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