ARU Final Report

8 Care leavers’ experiences of support during the Covid-19 pandemic Meanwhile, 55.3% of care leavers did not receive anysupportwith theirmental health andwellbeing . Some felt they did not need support, but others faced barriers such as not knowing how to get support: “I did not reach out because I did not know who to reach out to so it would have been helpful to know.” (Q: Female, 23) Manycare leaversdid things themselves tohelp their mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic, such as talking, walking, baking, colouring, online/ video games, listening to or playing music, working or studying, keeping busy and active, keeping a routine, spending time with friends and family, and looking after children: “I kept myself busy with work. But I also did jigsaws, went on walks and stuff, just keeping yourself busy and active, and keep myself in a routine instead of slobbing around…” (FG: Female, ND) 1.3.3 Connection and loneliness 58.7% of care leavers felt connected with friends and family before the pandemic, and this decreased to 32.6% during the pandemic . Some said they did not have people to connect with before the pandemic but not being able to work or go out made them feel even more lonely. Others found that the restrictions, including different tiers and rules around support bubbles, meant they were cut off from friends and family: “When it comes to being lonely and isolated personally I’m away from home at university so I have a support network back home… but at one point they were tier 1 but we were tier 3. The tier system and the whole bubble system as well… To begin with I was working so I had a work bubble but then we were furloughed so that bubble has gone, almost like the bubble has gotten smaller and smaller.” (FG: Male, 21) Support bubbles were very important, especially for those who lived on their own, were shielding, or had children. Though some care leavers felt that there was not much that could be done, 48.9% did receive support with staying connected . This included having access to the internet or a laptop, being part of WhatsApp groups, and taking part in online meetups with other care leavers as well as being contacted by their personal advisor/social worker: “People from the leaving care group always keep in touch, we were all given help to stay in touch with a computer and internet.” (Q: Female, 24) However, 51.1%didnot receivesupport andof these, many expressed the need for more opportunities to interact with their personal advisor/social worker and other care leavers: “More calls and more meets ups so people can feel like they have support and so they don’t feel rubbish and alone.” (Q: Female, 20) “Stay in touch and not leave it until it’s crisis point and it’s really bad when people are on the edge. Offer the support in the first place… [otherwise] it’s just a cycle where they let everyone get to breaking point. You want to feel a tiny bit important. It’s like “You’re currently not our priority at the moment, can you call another time”, which is understandable but it feels like every time you talk to them they’re always busy.” (FG: Female, 18) One care leaver explained how disconnected from others she felt during the pandemic and how any form of contact in person would have helped: “Not being able to see anyone at all no family or nothing was terrible… I felt completely disconnected from everyone and ended up not making my check ins and not answering the phone. I understand the risks and obviously the law but I think anyone and everyone has suffered mentally throughout this pandemic