'Turning corporate parenting into community parenting'
Chris Wright
Post-18 Lead - Suffolk Virtual College
Project Manager - ‘The Family Business’
'The Family Business' is a bold vision which
provides care leavers with meaningful
employment opportunities within
our local authority and
your community.
Why we need to...
Offer support to our care leavers
Why we need to...
Offer support to our care leavers
1. Fulfil our corporate parenting responsibilities.
Why we need to...
Offer support to our care leavers
2. Reduce employment inequalities for care leavers.
1. Fulfil our corporate parenting responsibilities.
Why we need to...
Offer support to our care leavers
2. Reduce employment inequalities for care leavers.
1. Fulfil our corporate parenting responsibilities.
3. Everyone needs a family.
Why we need to...
Offer support to our care leavers
This is our statutory, political, and moral duty to care leavers.
2. Reduce employment inequalities for care leavers.
1. Fulfil our corporate parenting responsibilities.
3. Everyone needs a family.
Why we need to...
Offer support to our care leavers
This is our statutory, political, and moral duty to care leavers.
2. Reduce employment inequalities for care leavers.
1. Fulfil our corporate parenting responsibilities.
3. Everyone needs a family.
Why we need to...
Offer support to our care leavers
This is our statutory, political, and moral duty to care leavers.
2. Reduce employment inequalities for care leavers.
1. Fulfil our corporate parenting responsibilities.
3. Everyone needs a family.
“YOU have done the hard part”
“But...
“But... too many still fall through the cracks”
Roughly 10,000 young people leave care each year.
Roughly 10,000 young people leave care each year.
40% will be NEET.
33% will have experienced a youth caution or conviction.
*Ministry of Justice (MoJ) & Department for Education (DfE)
https://www.adruk.org/fileadmin/uploads/adruk/Documents/Policy_Briefings/Policy-briefing-Katie-Hunter.pdf
By the age of 27, almost 80% will be NEET.
*Education Committee - July 2022
https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/9805/pdf/
£15,382 in economic benefit through a care leaver in employment.
x 40% NEET...
= £61.5million that the economy loses out on annually.
Care leavers’ transition into the labour market in England
Dr Neil Harrison, Jo Dixon, David Sanders-Ellis,
Jade Ward and Poppy Asker
January 2023
'Many care leavers were not able to benefit from family and other social networks that otherwise help young people to identify appropriate work and study opportunities.'
'Many care leavers were not able to benefit from family and other social networks that otherwise help young people to identify appropriate work and study opportunities.'
'Stakeholders felt there was a dearth of aspirational job opportunities for young people in general and that care leavers were often poorly placed to secure what was available'.
“Would this be good enough for my own child?”
‘Providing opportunity through community’
The Family Business Skills Academy
provides purposeful training built around the young people to ensure they go from being a
[Care] Leaver to a [Care] Leader
The Family Business Skills Academy
provides purposeful training built around the young people to ensure they go from being a
[Care] Leaver to a [Care] Leader
The Family Business Skills Academy
provides purposeful training built around the young people to ensure they go from being a
[Care] Leaver to a [Care] Leader
Accredited learning outcomes.
Available to all care leavers 4x p/a.
Access to a wide network of partners and collaborators.
A dedicated programme for care leavers taking on opportunities sought through The Family Business.
Delivered by
“It’s about reaching those young people through strong relationships, and providing them with autonomy to make good decisions for themelves.”
40 learners in the past 12 months
More than 140 qualifications + accreditations
5 in ringfenced SCC roles this year
6 employed externally
2 volunteering
2 into further education
6 attending vocational courses with Lofty Heights
3 returned to The Skills Academy
1 signed with agency
8 currently enrolled
“My boyfriend recommended The Skills Academy after he’d been there.
I knew I was ready for my next step; I’m really excited for what’s next.
I’m hopeful”
“My boyfriend recommended The Skills Academy after he’d been there.
I knew I was ready for my next step; I’m really excited for what’s next.
I’m hopeful”
“I don’t think any of us came here looking for friendships, but
that’s what’s happened.
We’re all getting on so well and now we’re supporting each other with
our placements”
“My boyfriend recommended The Skills Academy after he’d been there.
I knew I was ready for my next step; I’m really excited for what’s next.
I’m hopeful”
“I don’t think any of us came here looking for friendships, but
that’s what’s happened.
We’re all getting on so well and now we’re supporting each other with
our placements”
“I simply wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for The Family Business”
The Call to Action
The Call to Action
Consider at the end of year 11 whether The Family Business could support your student.
1.
The Call to Action
Consider at the end of Year 11 whether The Family Business could support your student.
Can your school offer an employment opportunity?
1.
2.
The Call to Action
Consider at the end of year 11 whether The Family Business could support your student.
Can your school offer an employment opportunity?
1.
2.
thefamilybusiness@suffolk.gov.uk
"Every child deserves a champion. An adult who will never give up on them. Who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be."
Rita Pierson
'Turning corporate parenting into community parenting'
thefamilybusiness@suffolk.gov.uk