New Foundation targets care leavers & young carers as NEET crisis hits decade high

With one in three care leavers finding themselves homeless within two years of leaving care, and almost one million 16 to 24-year-olds currently not in education, employment or training (NEET) – the highest figure in a decade – a new charity has launched tackle the numbers falling into poverty or even prison.

The Ambitious Together Foundation (ATF) says the challenges facing young adults are stark, with most care leavers facing a cliff edge to poverty. Each year, around 10,000 young people leave the care system, while thousands more lose family support at a critical stage of life. Many face significant barriers to education, employment, housing and wellbeing.

Additional figures from the Office for National Statistics find 40% of care-experienced people -including those aged 19 to 21 who are young carers for a loved one – are not in employment, education or training (Neet), compared with 12.7% those that haven’t experienced care.

Aston spoke to Matthew Gordon, founder of The Ambitious Together Foundation & CEO of Spectra.

Photo by Glenn Carstens Peter on Unsplash