ARU Final Report

Full Report – March 2021 45 a range of experiences and support needs that were often particular to their circumstances. They made a number of suggestions around practical and financial support that was – or would have been – helpful during the pandemic. This included food parcels/vouchers especially during lockdowns, free bus passes/tickets, and help with taxis when public transport was not an option. “I think having a sort of food bank or delivery service might have helped as sometimes I wouldn’t have much money and the shop near me is expensive…” (Q: Female, 18) “Understand that when a non care leaver is financially struggling they can often rely on family to help out whilst they are in bad circumstances. Care leavers often DO NOT have this level of support.” (Q: Female, 22) Some also suggested a rent break or help to pay their rent, which links into the Care Leavers Charter principle ‘To find you a home’ and help care leavers to feel happy and safe in independent living: “Helped us with rent while trying towork and deal with the stress of paying rent I’m in debt because II could [not] afford to live as my mental [health] was very bad.” (Q: Female, 24) Meanwhile, suggestions from care leavers about what would have been helpful in terms of emotional support for their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic included signposting to available supportsorservices, echoing theneed for information. This may be particularly useful as some care leavers in the focus groups felt like they could not go to their doctor to seek support with their mental health or other concerns, as they did not consider their circumstances were an “immediate problem” when services were overwhelmed. This also aligns with the Care Leavers Charter principle ‘To be a lifelong champion’ and help care leavers to break down the barriers they face when accessing other services, such as housing, benefits, colleges and universities, employment providers, and health services. It was clear that those who did feel supported were being contacted regularly by their personal advisor/ social worker or support workers from involvement and participation teams, and this was expressed as a clear need for those who did not receive it: “Just someone asking me as an employed 21 year old who had just moved into my first flat if I was managing okay.” (Q: Female, 20) Given the limited availability of mental health support and the barriers that care leavers often face in accessing this support, one care leaver suggested that personal advisors should have training in mental health so that they could provide this support when needed. Another expressed that anything would have been helpful as she did not receive any emotional support: “Anything. There was no support whatsoever when it came to my mental health, despite reaching out for it.” (Q: Female, 18) The fact that some received effective support along these lines and others did not suggests that care leavers are not offered the same level of support across or even within local authorities. Furthermore, our findings alongside those in the recent literature, demonstrate the additional challenges faced