New guides to help Tameside’s care leavers live independently

A series of guides that provide valuable life skills are available to support Tameside’s care leavers in living independently.

Tameside Council has created the Independence Guides for Care Leavers to help young people setting up home and dealing with life’s challenges.

Young people will be given a pack of the eight guides while in care, which will help prepare them for living independently. The guides are also available for current care leavers and can be used as tools to assist social workers and other professionals.

Each guide is centred around a different topic, including Housing; Education, Employment and Training; Sexual Health; Relationships; Using your Voice; Money and Budgeting; Health and Wellbeing; and Understanding Your Entitlement.

They cover everything from registering with a doctor and the most appropriate place to seek health advice to social matters, cooking and tips on how to manage a home.

The guides have been developed with care leavers to provide the information that they require and their views.

The Council is the Corporate Parent for its cared for children and care leavers, meaning it has responsibility to provide the best possible care and protection.

Cllr Teresa Smith, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Children and Families, said: “As their Corporate Parent, we’re determined to do everything we can to support our cared for children and care leavers and provide opportunities to help them grow and thrive.

“These guides are a great way to engage with and inform young people about valuable life skills as they become civic-minded adults and to prepare them for living independently. They can be turned to for advice and tips when in need, used as a logbook to store information, and provide a host of contacts for help.

“Young people who leave care can face challenges with education, employment, housing, and mental wellbeing, but these guides will be an enormous help. Like any parent, we have big aspirations for our young people and are immensely proud of their achievements.”

The new guides follow on from the Council establishing the Care Leavers Teatime Club, a weekly get together that gives Tameside’s care leavers the opportunity to learn budget-friendly cooking skills and enjoy a hot meal together.

To find out more about Tameside’s cared for children and the support available, or for care leavers wanting more information, please visit www.tameside.gov.uk/socialcare/children.