Looked After Children and Care Leavers

Who is a Looked After Child or Care Leaver?

At Blackpool and The Fylde College, the definition of a Looked After Child is a person under the age of 18 currently under the care of the local authority; a Care Leaver is someone between 18 and 25 years of age who is still receiving support.

How we support Looked After Children and Care Leavers

Further education and apprenticeships

Prior to entry into College you will be invited to College visits and offers of additional College taster sessions

You will also have meetings arranged with key people to complete initial academic and non-academic assessments, which may include specialist support assessment and liaison with the following:

Children’s Social Care
residential care homes
foster carers
virtual high schools
Personal Assistants (PA’s)

Upon entry to the College you have access to all of the appropriate support and the development of an individual support plan

While at College you have access to:

Up to £1,200 worth of funding (which could include a travel pass and bursary) and free meals if you're in care or receiving certain benefits (eligibility applies)
contact made with the relevant local authority to request a working link with either the social worker or leaving care advisor and to request the Guaranteed Bursary evidence letter
contact and link established with the student’s external support, eg residential key worker, foster parent, placement
action planning to ensure clear expectations of course requirements
link with progress tutor and senior tutor to ensure awareness of the needs of the student
ongoing support, which may include weekly link, check on attendance and direct link with personal tutor
referral and link to specialist internal and external support agencies as require

Aged 16-24 and starting an apprenticeship?

If you're a Care Leaver starting an apprenticeship before the 31st July 2023 and aged between 16 and 24, our £1,000 bursary payment will ease the transition into employment and support you during this important time.

For apprentices starting their apprenticeship on or after 1 August 2023, the bursary will be £3,000. It is payable in instalments over the first year of the apprenticeship.

This will be discussed as part of the financial appointment at the signup meeting for your apprenticeship.

Read the Government Guidance for more information

Higher education - SUCCEED

SUCCEED is specifically for Care Leavers, carers and students who do not have contact with their families, who are studying at degree level.

Through SUCCEED, these students can access:

£1,000 bursary for each year of study
dedicated Higher Education Learning Mentor offering ongoing support
regular one-to-one study skills and/or wellbeing sessions
other College services on a priority basis.

For more information about SUCCEED:

Email: succeed@blackpool.ac.uk.

Care Leaver Covenant

The Covenant is a promise made by private, public or voluntary organisations to provide support for care leavers aged 16-25 to help them to live independently.

More support for you

Local authorities support for Care Leavers

External agencies support for Care Leavers

We are proud of our links with the following external organisations supporting Looked After Children and Care Leavers:

Contact us

Further education

Young people, foster parents, residential staff and external agencies enquiring on behalf of the Looked After Child or Care Leaver can contact us by:

Call: 01253 504219
Email: safeguarding@blackpool.ac.uk

Higher education

For more information, contact the Student Support and Wellbeing team:

Call: 01253 504494
Email: helms@blackpool.ac.uk