Helping care leavers access employment, education or training
Figures show that over a third of London’s care leavers aged 17-21 are not in employment, education or training (NEET).1
A care leaver is defined as a young person aged 16-25 who is or was “looked after” by a local authority on or after their 16th birthday.2
The London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will tomorrow begin a two-part investigation into care leavers accessing employment, education or training in London.
The Committee will seek to highlight the challenges and barriers that care leavers face, whilst looking at opportunities to improve access for young care leavers.
The guests are:
Panel 1: 2:00-3:30pm:
- Dr Neil Harrison, Associate Professor of Education and Social Justice, University of Exeter
- Will McMahon, Project Worker, Care Leavers’ Association
- Juno Schwarz, Director of Fundraising, Policy and Communications, Drive Forward Foundation
- Nicola Smith, Senior Policy Adviser, Barnardo’s
Panel 2: 3:30-5:00pm:
- Ayo Akande, Interim Assistant Director – Skills and Employment (Delivery), GLA
- Ann-Marie Soyinka, Interim Assistant Director of Skills and Employment (Policy), GLA
- Matthew Blood, Virtual School Head, Islington Council
- Bethany Caunter, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Care Leaver Covenant
- Debbie Jones, Director of Children’s Services, Croydon Council
The meeting will take place on Monday 9 December 2024 from 2pm in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Notes to editors
- Department for Education, Children looked after in England including adoptions, November 2024
- Children Act 1989, s.24
- Full agenda papers.
- Marina Ahmad AM, Chair of the Economy, Culture and Skills Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Economy, Culture and Skills Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Tony Smyth in the Assembly Media Office on 07763 251727 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.