Societies most vulnerable Young People Hung out to Dry
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Societies most vulnerable Young People Hung out to Dry – A care leavers and excluded teens are often more likely to end up homeless or in a prison cell than getting a job.
In the past week, we have heard bleak stories about the state of children’s social care, prisons are reaching bursting point. The Department for Education revealed that the number of looked-after children has hit its highest number yet – up 1 per cent from 2020 to 80,850 – and the County Councils Network has predicted that this number will hit 100,000 by 2025.
We must urgently address the national epidemic of inequality which has been growing silently in the dark.
At the moment, it is sadly still the case that an 18-year-old care leavers and teenagers are more likely to end up in a prison cell than getting a job. They make up a quarter of the homeless population and are far less likely to be in education, employment or training than other people of their age.
Getting looked-after children to change their futures and developing an entrepreneurial mind-set will save money, break intergenerational cycles and improve lives.
Care leavers are not less clever than other people; they are just less lucky. Official data shows that even children entitled to free school meals and those in the poorest fifth of households are more than twice as likely to go to get into employment as a young person who grew up in care.
On the other hand talk to any child in prison or in trouble with the police and they will tell you that falling out of school was a trigger point. With 100,000 now being excluded or off-rolled each year, there are a lot of children on the outside – and it is being on the outside which makes these children vulnerable. Children should be at school, it gives them structure, access to support, the opportunity to build relationships with trusted adults and other friends. For vulnerable kids on the edge of gangs, it’s these basics which are missing from the rest of their lives.
This does not mean that all exclusions are avoidable. Schools have responsibility to all their students. If a child poses a genuine risk to their peers it is quite right the school takes steps to keep other children safe. However, exclusions for violence are a minority, those involving weapons fewer still. Whilst exclusions have risen 67% since 2012/13, there is no evidence behaviour patterns have changed. And the children they are excluding are highly vulnerable: half of them have mental health problems, a similar number also have special educational needs.
At Genuine Futures the children that we are most concerned about are some of society’s most vulnerable.
Looked after children are likely to have experienced multiple disadvantage, trauma and abuse which can contribute to challenging behaviour and other difficulties.
They may have also been affected by problems inherent to the care system which are known to adversely impact on support, well-being and behaviour, such as instability in terms of placement and social worker.
Genuine Futures designs and delivers solutions that focus on preventive measures that empowers, inspires and motivates our participants igniting the spark of resilience raising the aspirations in people of all ages within our communities.
We support individuals 11- 30 who may have faced difficult obstacles and barriers in their lives which have prevented them from achieving their full potential.
From one-on-one life coaching sessions that offer bespoke guidance and support, to group therapy sessions that facilitate shared experiences and collective growth, we aim to provide a nurturing environment for you to explore and enhance your mental well-being. We also offer immersive retreats that invite you to unplug from daily stressors, immerse yourself in tranquil settings, and focus wholly on your journey of self-improvement and self-discovery.
If you are a school or organisation that works with young people and would like to discover how we can support your learners then please email us at: hello@genuinefutures.co.uk