A fund making a county-wide difference
November is Care Leavers Month, an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of young people who have been in care and raise awareness of their challenges. Kent Community Foundation’s dedicated fund for care leavers continues to make a life-changing difference to young people across the county, providing practical and emotional support as they move towards independence
Impact so far
Since the programme launched, £70,000 in match funding has been raised to help care leavers in Kent and Medway overcome financial hardship, access essential household items, and take vital steps toward stable, independent living. In the first year, 35 individual grants were awarded, averaging £800, alongside a grant to the Young Lives Foundation, which supported an estimated 70 young people through specialist delivery work. In year two, the fund continues to help the county’s care leavers, having awarded two grants to organisations and 27 grants to individuals since April.
The Care Leavers Fund supports young people aged 16.5-25 as they move from foster or state care into independent living. Grants can be used to help set up home, build life skills, and support confidence and wellbeing. Applications for individual support are accepted all year round and must be submitted by a professional supporting the young person.
Local charities and community groups can also apply for grants of up to £10,000 to deliver mentoring, counselling, peer support, life-skills training or practical help with home setup. These applications are made through Kent Community Foundation’s General Grant route.
Grant recipient stories
One grant recipient, C, 22, shared how this support has transformed her situation.
C entered care aged twelve following abuse and spent several years in foster placements before living independently at twenty-one. After recently discovering she was pregnant, she faced additional challenges when her bed broke, forcing her to sleep on her sofa and worsening her back pain. With a small grant from Kent Community Foundation, C was able to buy a bed frame and mattress, a chest of drawers, and baby essentials, including a bottle steriliser and bottles.
C said: “It has been great to prepare for the baby without having to worry near my due date whether I have everything. I would have struggled to afford it on my Universal Credit, especially purchasing the bed and chest of drawers. Having all the items has reassured me and my Social Worker that I am prepared and will do everything for my baby. It has helped with my mental health as I am not stressed or worrying about how I am going to purchase items I need. I am also more rested and no longer have back pain from sleeping on the sofa. It has helped exactly how I hoped it would.”
A second grant recipient H, 21 who is originally from Afghanistan and has refugee status, has been supported by Young Lives Foundation for over two years, when he was referred to them as a care leaver.
A grant of £781 was awarded for H to enrol on a taxi driving course, and to cover a private hire licence (which lasts three years). The course included in-person and virtual training and included the tests/training needed to get a licence. H had done well in passing his UK driving test and buying himself a car. The course has enabled him to work as a taxi driver and have steady work.
Long-term support for care leavers
These individual stories reflect the wider impact of the Care Leavers Fund, which provides young people with the chance to build secure, independent lives after leaving care. By funding both essential items and skills-based opportunities, the programme supports long-term stability and self-reliance across Kent and Medway.
Catherine Glover, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation, said: “Care leavers often face huge challenges when they transition into independent living, from financial insecurity to emotional isolation. Our fund ensures that no young person must face these challenges alone. The generosity of our donors and match funding partners has been crucial in enabling us to provide this lifeline to so many young people across Kent.”
Kent Community Foundation has pledged to award more grants to organisations this year in addition to their grants to individuals.
To find out more about the Care Leavers Fund or how to support it, visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding/individuals or email georgie@kentcf.org.uk
This article is based on a press release from Kent Community Foundation, edited by Kent and Surrey Bylines.
