ARU Final Report

Full Report – March 2021 21 that would have been beneficial but that’s not the case so it’s been coming in one way and going straight out the other.” (FG: Male, 21) In relation to the most recent lockdown (January 2021), one care leaver told us: “I work a zero-hour contract, and especially after Christmas when we had the other lockdown, we weren’t getting any customers so we weren’t getting any hours because we had all the Christmas temps because we expected loads of hours… It was lucky I wasn’t really working towards the end of the month because I wouldn’t be able to afford travel and all that.” (FG: Female, 22) A similar picture is painted in the wider literature on care leavers experiences during the pandemic. Roberts et al. (2020) explored experiences of Welsh care leavers during the first lockdown and found that the sick pay received when off work due to Covid-19 symptoms did not cover rent. Indeed, Become (2020) have raised concerns about the possibility of care experienced young people being pushed further into debt and rent arrears, which can be a risk factor for becoming homeless. 4.1.2 Independent living Respondents in the questionnaire also described a range of challenges as they moved to more independent living during the pandemic: “I have a roof over my head which I’m thankful for (staying put arrangement) but the current circumstances at home are not great – I would like to start looking for my own place and have some sort of a plan before I turn 21 tomove out of my current accommodation. This is an extremely scary thing for me but I have recognised that I’d probably benefit from this.” (Q: Female, 20) “I moved house during the pandemic and had no one to contact, I didn’t know my PA so couldn’t call to ask for help regarding council tax, or help moving and setting up my new home.” (Q: Female, 20) “I felt like I was just thrown into accommodation at 21. 1 day after my 21st.” (Q: Female, 21) “During the first lockdown I struggled being alone at my placement (supported lodging), I had just moved there the day before the first announcement and hadn’t had any time to get to know my new carer or feel comfortable in the household. Part way into the lockdown I was moved to my grandparents’ house which helped a great deal and then for the second I moved in with my partner.” (Q: Female, 18) Meanwhile, some care leavers shared positive experiences of their accommodation arrangements: “I’ve been quite lucky because I’m with my previous foster carers so quite lucky being connected with my family… When I was deciding whether to go to Uni, emotionally and financially it wasn’t better moving out. It’s worked out but some decisions aren’t as lucky or fortunate as that.” (FG: Male, 19) Similar to our findings, Roberts et al. (2020) found that young people spoke about their accommodation in both supportive and unsupportive terms. Some who were still living with foster carers, for example, reflected on the new routine they had developed which they enjoyed. Meanwhile, others spoke about being moved just before or at the beginning of lockdown into adult hostels or flats where they did not feel safe. Furthermore, Bentley et al. (2020) who authored the ‘How safe are our children?’ report, described how some looked after young people are living in independent or semi- independent accommodations that are not required to be regulated by Ofsted in England or the Care Inspectorate inWales. They further draw on research from Greatbatch and Tate (2020), which shows that such provision can be unsafe for young people due to the lack of care and support available.