Businesses are being urged to find out how they can help the city’s care leavers.
An open day is taking place to raise awareness of support for care leavers and encourage organisations to offer opportunities for them.
The event takes place at the Guildhall in Lowgate tomorrow from 11am to 3.30pm to launch Care Leavers’ Week, which runs until Wednesday 30 October.
Hull City Council helps care leavers to prepare for their futures by offering a range of support and advice at Room 42, a care leavers’ hub in the Guildhall.
Phil Morris, personal advisor from the council’s leaving care team, said: “It is a real privilege to be leading the team at Room 42 and working with young people who are supporting their peers to make positive progress with their lives.
Fantastic afternoon spent with @LordHull and all of the businesses who have shown a commitment to supporting @Hullccnews‘s Young People. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/0lIsO8fV1B
— GHRoom42 (@GhRoom42) October 9, 2019
“We try to engage young people through positive activities and building relationships. This enables us to help them move into more structured activities, then move on into training or employment.
“I am continually inspired by the young people I meet through Room 42 who just need the right opportunity and support to realise their potential.”
Robbie is one of more than 80 young people who have been supported by Room 42 since it launched in September last year. He has now secured an apprenticeship as an engineering technician at Swift caravans.
He said: “I’ve been at Swift for a few months and I’m learning how to do things like glass matting, sanding and working with resins and chemicals.
Robbie dropped in to see us today. Really enjoying his Apprenticeship with @swiftgroup. pic.twitter.com/6xPujF8YNo
— GHRoom42 (@GhRoom42) September 27, 2019
“Room 42 helped me find the apprenticeship and helped me with the application form. I’m hoping it leads to a job in the engineering sector.”
In Hull, there are about 230 care leavers aged over 18, with 25 young people either employed by or taking part in work experience with Hull City Council through the Care to Work scheme.
Property management services firm NPS Humber has given work experience opportunities to a number of people through the Care to Work scheme.
Phil Vozza from NPS Humber said: “Having taken on a number of work experience candidates, we know the route is a good way to select talent for the workplace which is sometimes missed in the standard recruitment approach. The experience of working with the scheme has been entirely positive both for staff and the company.”
Find out more or to discuss ways to get involved here, email [email protected] or call 07540 672676.
