A national campaign highlighting the work that supports young people and families is being promoted by Wokingham Borough Council.

National Care Leavers’ Week (October 26 to November 1) raises awareness about the ongoing needs of care leavers, many of whom continue to need varying levels of support once they leave care to help them to prepare for and manage independent living.

Wokingham Borough Council’s family placement team is at the centre of the support services available to children and families locally. There are usually around 80 children and young people looked after by the council at any point in time. The team aims to secure the best possible placements and future life opportunities for these young people through a range of temporary and permanent placement options.

This includes adoption and fostering, as well as placement with Special Guardianship carers.

Having enough local carers is vital to being able to offer local young people the opportunity to live locally and maintain links with their friends, family and community. This year, the council aims to recruit 20 carers across the spectrum, including new supported lodgings carers.

The supported lodgings scheme is an accommodation scheme which aims to smooth a young person’s transition to living independently. It gives young people the opportunity to live in the home of an approved supported lodgings carer which offers a supportive environment to build confidence and improve the practical skills that they will need for independent living.

Executive member for health and well-being Julian McGhee Sumner said: "The work of the Family Placement Team is vital in supporting some of the most vulnerable young people within our community. Every young person deserves the best possible opportunity, whether this is at school or at home, and we aim to provide that.

"I would urge people to find out more about the work of the team and, if they are interested in becoming more involved in any of the support schemes we offer to young people to get in touch."

*C, one of the Borough’s longest-serving Supported Lodgings Carers, offers a caring home to young people aged between 16 and 24 who can no longer live with their own families but need a helping hand on the road to independent living. She said: “My main role is to give advice and be empathetic to their needs. I need to actively listen to them and be aware of the issues or concerns they may be experiencing. I am there to teach them life skills in order to fully equip them for independent living.

"It’s an opportunity to help young people become well-adjusted, responsible individuals. I feel good about that."

The council holds monthly information sessions about fostering, including supported lodgings. These sessions are designed to give people the opportunity to find out more about becoming a fostering or supported lodgings carer and what the council has to offer in terms of support. The next session is on Thursday November 17, 6.30pm to 8.30pm at FBC Centre, Gorse Ride North, Finchampstead.

There will also be special events for care leavers this week and an information stand in the Civic offices at Shute End from October 26 to November 1.

The Family Placement Team can be contacted on (0118) 974 6204 or fostering@wokingham.gov.uk 

* The names of the people quoted have been changed to protect their identity. They are real Wokingham Borough residents.