Supporting care leavers takes fund beyond £1.4m

Our Youth Futures Fund has now raised and distributed over £1.4million for young people in London, thanks to a successful care leavers programme.

In 2024, we raised £395,000 to support community organisations in London to help young care leavers to thrive once they move beyond the care system and adapt to a regular adult life they are rarely prepared for. The fund, which launched in July, includes £150,000 of matched donations from CCLA Investment Management and was a part of a national programme of support and funding for care leavers.

There are an estimated 16,000 care leavers in London, aged between 18-25. Young care leavers continue to be disproportionately impacted by the aftermath of the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis, whilst struggling with low confidence, poor mental health and financial instability. Support for care experienced young people is a pressing issue, with patchy and inconsistent assistance across the Capital.

Housing, employment and training, health, wellbeing and isolation, immigration status, engagement with the criminal justice system and continually being moved between boroughs are massive issues for these young people. The London Community Foundation aimed to fund projects that empower care leavers to navigate these critical factors of their transition into adulthood.

Our Youth Futures Fund was able to distribute grants to the following impactful, innovative, community-based groups and organisations:

• Live Unlimited
• Settle Support
• Sister System
• Smart Works Charity
• The Big House Theatre Company
• YouthLegal

“Your multi-year grant will play a pivotal role in transforming the lives of young care leavers in Croydon and across London, empowering them with the confidence and the skills needed to secure employment. Thanks to The London Community Foundation for giving us the opportunity to build upon this impact, and work towards our goal of being there for all young care leavers in London who need our support.”

Georgia Wiltshere, Philanthropy Manager, Smart Works

Smart Works Charity support young female care leavers, primarily from Croydon, to develop employability skills and to access appropriate clothing for interviews and new jobs. At three centres in Croydon, Islington and Ladbroke Grove, a team of 350 volunteers provide personal dressing consultations to find a high-quality interview outfit and one-to-one interview coaching sessions. Smart Works Charity aim for 1 in 3 of the young women securing a job within one month of their visit and they offer a second consultation and a capsule working wardrobe to last until their first pay cheque.

“Core funding is essential for allowing us to continue to develop and better meet the needs of young care leavers across London. It will strengthen our organisation by ensuring we have capacity for core activities that are essential to our sustainability and development. (This includes) reviewing our strategic direction and strategic partnerships; and developing the quality of our specialist legal advice, assistance and representation which will lead to them having improved mental health and wellbeing and giving them a better understanding of their legal rights.”

Valerie Clark, Director, YouthLegal

YouthLegal offer a legal advice service relating to rights, benefits, housing and immigration benefitting care experienced young people across South London. They provide easy access to young-person-friendly, social welfare solicitors/caseworkers, offering high quality, holistic support and legal education. YouthLegal has undergone significant growth over the last few years and recently moved into larger, more accessible premises in order to meet children and young people’s post-pandemic needs. The core funding provided by our Youth Futures Fund will enable them to continue to grow and develop to respond to these increasing needs.

Our Youth Futures Fund has now raised over £1.4million pounds since launching in 2021, partly as a response to the struggles faced by young people because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Youth Futures is one of The London Community Foundation’s ‘All Together’ funds, combining the considerable generosity of businesses, organisations and individuals from across the city. Each year focuses on a different theme, addressing the pressing needs of young people under the age of 25 in London.

The fund has supported has provided significant multi-year grants to 24 projects across 13 London boroughs, with an average grant size of over £58,000. The themes to date have been mental health (in the aftermath of Covid), skills, training and employability, healthy relationships and supporting care leavers. A new Youth Futures Fund theme for 2025 will be announced later this year.

If you or your company would be interested in making a difference for young people across London, use the links to find out more or to take action right now: