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
  • visits to College and offer of additional College taster sessions
  • meetings arranged with key people to complete initial academic and non-academic assessments, which may include specialist support assessment and liaison with the following:
    • Social Services
    • residential care homes
    • foster parents
    • virtual high schools
On entry into College
  • access to appropriate support and the development of an individual support plan
While at College
  • 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*
  • 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 required

* Eligibility applies

Aged 16-24 and starting an apprenticeship?

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

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

Higher education

SUCCEED – if you’re studying a degree-level course

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.

If you need to contact us, please 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.

B&FC's commitment to the care leaver covenant

More support for you

Local authorities
External agencies

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:

Higher education

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

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