We want to make sure every young person leaving care has support to explore and achieve their goals in life and succeed in their chosen education, training and employment.
We will support you by offering specialist advisers based within the Virtual School and Career Connect Service to support you to work out what path you wish to take.
We offer excellent career advice and support right through to university, or if you prefer to work straight away, we can help with apprenticeships and training opportunities. We work with partners across the city and beyond to get you on the employment ladder.
Education and training
- Support to access a possible bursary if you stay in full-time education, go to university or choose to do an apprenticeship
- Funding for essential equipment and trips that are vital to your education
- Support to access a bursary if you stay in full-time education, go to university or choose to do an apprenticeship. This includes access to Education Trusts, Discretionary Learner Support Funds, the Further Education Bursary, and the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund
- Support to buy equipment, essential clothing and books
- Money-based incentives for attendance in education or training, or for achieving certain qualifications. You will receive £50 as a well done if you gain six or more GCSEs.
We’ll cover the cost of travel to and from a course if no other option is available
- Money-based incentives for attendance in education or training, or for achieving certain qualifications
- With your consent, your PA can have a relationship with your tutors or support services.
- Support to get you 'back on track' if you have a study or career break up to age of 25 years
Higher education Support if you choose to go to university includes:
- Accessing support with tuition fees and maintenance loans
- Support to attend open days and admission interviews
- Support with tuition fees, maintenance loans, the National Scholarship Programme and bursaries
- Travel costs at the start and end of term
- £54 per week towards accommodation costs, paid 52 weeks of the year
- A weekly allowance of £58.90 for the duration of the studies
- A £30 incentive for attendance and support
- Money towards the cost of graduation
- £75 congratulations payment when you pass your degree and help to reduce and manage your student debt.
Employment
- Ring-fenced opportunities for work experience and employment at Manchester City Council
- Ring fenced apprenticeships and employability programmes for Manchester care leavers
- Access to organisations that will provide support with interview preparation and appropriate clothing
- Support writing CVs, job applications and personal statements, plus interview preparation
- Work experience, taster days and apprenticeships with local employers
- Support with travel costs to job interviews, if there are no other means to get to the appointment
- Provide advice and support to get onto a college course, which may increase work opportunities.
We will celebrate your achievements at an annual celebration event and in a personal way when you gain significant qualifications.
Studying and Childcare
- Lone parents can apply for a Parent’s Learning Allowance and a Childcare grant
- If you are a parent of a young child and on a college or training course, you will probably be eligible for the Care to Learn scheme
- To qualify for Care to Learn, you must be under 20 years old on the day the course begins
- Care to Learn will contribute towards childcare costs until the course has finished (up to £160 per child, per week)
- If you are over 20 years old when the course begins, you could get help with childcare costs from the Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme or from the college’s Discretionary Learner Support Fund.
Speak to your PA or our Community Hub about the options available to support you to access education or employment opportunities. If you do not qualify for any other scheme we might be able to offer you support to help you achieve your goals
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