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Care Leaver Covenant

The Care Leaver Covenant is part of a government strategy to help support care leavers aged 16 to 25 as they move towards independence.

Businesses in the private, public or voluntary sector can pledge their support and become a signatory for the covenant.

Your support can include:

  • work experience or career support  
  • paid employment, including internships and apprenticeships  
  • discounted or free goods and services

If you offer employment support

You can build a new process for recruiting care leavers or use an existing process.

You can sign the Care Leaver Friendly Employment Charter. The charter includes a set of principles to inform the recruitment process and help care leavers to thrive in your workplace.

Inclusive Employer Toolkit  

For more information on employing care-leavers, get the Inclusive Employer Toolkit. This toolkit was developed with companies that have already run employment schemes for care leavers.  

The toolkit includes a variety of case studies, such as The John Lewis Partnership, who created a bespoke programme as part of their Building Happier Futures initiative. 

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Contents

Benefits for your business

If you can provide support to care-leavers, you can:

  • have access to a talent pool of young people who can help grow your business and fill skill gaps  
  • contribute to your company’s social responsibility and diversity and inclusion activity  
  • work with individuals who have been in care and that have attributes such as independence, resilience and adaptability  

You will also be invited to events related to the scheme and learn more about other diversity and inclusion schemes.

Cost

You may have costs based on what you offer and your organisation size. For example, discounted goods and services or paid employment.

Your responsibilities

By becoming a signatory and pledging your support for the Care Leaver Covenant, you must offer practical support for care leavers.

If you offer a work opportunity, you will need to provide:

  • a safe work environment  
  • an induction which includes explaining relevant policies and procedures

Find out more

Visit the Care Leaver Covenant website for more information.

To become a signatory for the covenant scheme, email info@mycovenant.org.uk with information on what you would like to offer care leavers. 

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More resources

Interim Tile - Follow the Care Leaver Covenant on Linkedin
Follow the Care Leaver Covenant on Linkedin

Get regular updates on the Care Leaver Covenant.

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