Care Leavers hub opens in North Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire Children’s Trust with the support of North Northamptonshire Council has launched a new hub to provide better access to support for care experienced young people in the North of the county.
This new hub is a fantastic step forward in providing county wide support making it more accessible than ever for hundreds of young people to access vital support services as they transition out of care and into adulthood.
Leaving Care Hubs not only provide support but they also provide a safe space for care experienced young people to spend time and learn important life skills. Having a brand new hub in the north is a big step forward in providing access to these services for many young people.
Over the next 18 months the new hub will undergo significant renovations to transform it into a dedicated space to support care experienced young people. It will also be equipped with flats to support many young people’s initial transition into independence away from care. Furthermore, the hub will offer a range of services including housing advice, education and employment support as well as mental health and wellbeing resources. Young people will also be able to use it as a space for social connection, meeting up with friends and to meet with their Personal Advisors.
The new facility reflects the Council’s commitment to ensuring that every young person leaving care has the tools, guidance, and encouragement they need to thrive.
Colin Foster, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Children’s Trust said: “This is a huge milestone and we are incredibly pleased that with the support of our colleagues in North Northamptonshire Council a base has been identified for our care leavers hub.
Providing them with access to really important support services as they navigate their way towards independence is crucial for ensuring positive outcomes. The hub will provide hundreds more care experienced young people with the support they need at a critical phase of their lives”
The hub is being developed in close consultation with care experienced young people, whose voices will shape the hub and delivery of the services on offer. It will also act as a base for personal advisers and other professionals who work directly with care experienced young people.
Cllr Elizabeth Wright, Executive Member for Children, Education, and Families, at North Northamptonshire Council said: “I am delighted that we now have a hub in the North of the county for care experienced young people.It is so important that young people have a place that they can belong, access the support they need and feel safe. I’m excited to see how the young people develop this in to their own space.”