(Above) Melinda May, Group Head - Children and Families at Milton Keynes City Council with Care Leavers and young people at a free dance class.
This week, MK City Council is celebrating National Care Leavers Week (24 October – 30 October). A range of events and online activities are running with support from local partners such as Udoitdance. The street dance tutors are running a series of free sessions exclusively for Care Leavers and young people.
The City Council is currently supporting 232 Care Leavers. These are young people aged 18-24 years old who have been in care in Milton Keynes. In MK, Care Leavers who meet the criteria are offered advice and support to help them achieve their aspirations for the future. This includes the allocation of a Personal Advisor, regularly reviewed pathway plans and guidance in areas such as education, accommodation, finances, training and employment.
Funded by the City Council, the team at Udoitdance will soon be running dance workshops in local secondary schools. These sessions include leadership training, providing young people with additional key skills they can take into the world of work.
“Our children in care are so full of potential and deserve the same opportunities as any other young people. Alongside the financial support available to those leaving care, our 16-25 team are dedicated to helping young people as they transition through this important period in their lives. We will continue to develop the support we offer to ensure that Milton Keynes is a city where nobody is left behind.”
The full week of council-led events includes activity workshops, a football tournament and last night, a party at Bistro Live to celebrate the achievements of Care Leavers.
For further information on the support available for young people leaving care, please visit the MK Care Leavers Hub.