Care leavers – finding work

Your PA can get you funding for interview clothes, and link you up with services that can help write a CV, develop your interview techniques and find a job. Find out more about what's on offer below.

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  Liverpool Ways to Work

  The Liverpool Ways to Work offers information, advice and guidance to help care leavers into work or training.

  If you are unemployed, over 16 and live in Liverpool, they will help you find apprenticeships and training opportunities. Their job clubs and one-to-one support sessions will give you skills and confidence to help you move into work.

  For further information, please use the online contact form on liverpoolinwork.co.uk and a member of the team will be in touch.

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  Drop-in job club and ESOL sessions

  Job club sessions are delivered by Ways to Work in the Adult Learning Service's Granby and Newsham Centres twice a week. A member of the team will give you one-to-one support with your CV, interview skills and job applications.

  You can join ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) conversation sessions if you are over 16 years of age. These take place twice a week in the Adult Learning Centre in Granby Street, Thrive and City of Liverpool College.  

  Please email pip@liverpool.gov.uk for dates and times of drop-in job club or ESOL sessions.

  Adult learning opportunities

  Liverpool's Adult Learning Service delivers accessible, high quality, locally-delivered adult learning opportunities for the people over 19. Find out more about what Liverpool ALS has to offer.

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  Career Connect

  Career Connect gives one-to-one support to care experienced young people aged 16 and 17 years old. If you have an Education Health Care Plan, then Career Connect can work with you up to the age of 25 years. Visit careerconnect.org.uk to find out more.

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  Catch 22 CLIC – Care Leavers Into Careers

  The CLIC programme offers support to care experienced young people aged 18-30.

  The benefits of the programme include:

  • 1:1 bespoke advice and guidance from a Career Mentor during the six-month programme.
  • Ongoing in-work support for the first 3-6 Months in employment or education.
  • Employability training, advice and guidance, including CV writing and interview skills.
  • Support with travel to work costs until the first pay, interview clothing costs, and support with some accreditation costs.
  • Support to become employable by ensuring you have a bank account, ID, and right to work documentation.

  For more information please email: CLICProgramme@catch-22.org.uk.

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  Thrive coffee shop

  Thrive is a coffee shop in 21 Preston St, L1 6DP. Thrive is a safe space where care experienced young people can meet their support workers, social workers and probation officers.

  Young people aged 18-24 who get Universal Credit can use Thrive as an alternative to their local Job Centre. You'll find:

  • free Wi-Fi, access to laptops and data bundles
  • employer-led careers' sessions to give insight into the world of work
  • 1-2-1 mentoring with industry professionals
  • intensive job search support
  • coaching, counselling and wellbeing sessions aimed at helping to remove barriers to employment
  • career pathway support for 16 and 17-year-olds, especially those who are due to leave the care system
  • free refreshments for young people
  • debt, housing and legal advice

Help for those in low-paid employment

If you are in low-paid employment and aged 16 to 24 years, you may be entitled to receive a £30 enhanced top-up payment. Speak to your PA if you think this applies to you.

The Leaving Care Team can also get grant funding from the Community Foundation for Merseyside for equipment or services that will help you:

• settle into safe accommodation
• enter further or higher education
• find satisfying employment
• achieve good health
• achieve your aspirations and ambitions

If you would like support in any of these areas, then discuss this with your PA and they will make an application on your behalf.