Well done to 23 yr old Sam and 17 yr old Tia that spoke up for Care Leavers! What a result!
Care leavers in Oldham have expressed their delight to a support package put in place to help them live healthier and independently.
The Care Leavers offer includes free prescriptions as well as council tax exemption, discounted leisure passes and much more for those up to the age of 25. This has all been identified as much needed for years by those leaving care.
The move is designed to help young people who had difficult starts in life better adapt to the world outside of the care system.
Sam Coupe, from Oldham, is part of the local Children in Care Council that helped develop the support package. Last November, on behalf of the Children in Care Council’s first ever motion to Oldham’s Full Council, Sam presented in front of councillors and called for Carolyn Wilkins (Chief Executive, Oldham Council and Accountable Officer, NHS CCG) to write to the Secretary of State for Health asking that care leavers up to the age of 25 become a national exemption criteria on prescription charges.
The 23-year-old said: “This means a lot to care leavers. When we leave care, it’s often a more daunting challenge for most young people. We don’t have or earn much money when we become independent. We have to live on a tight budget, so every little helps.”
“Oldham did write to the Secretary of State for Health calling for national action, but took local action in the meantime to support care leavers.”
Tia Henderson, aged 17, also of the Children in Care Council and Chair of Oldham Youth Council, added: “It’s fantastic to not only be listened to, but have our ideas become a reality.
“We feel like we have a voice and it’s being heard loud and clear. We’re part of the decision-making process and it’s great to have our views acted upon by these organisations.”
Earlier this month, all of the borough’s looked after children and care leavers were honoured at the local authority’s annual Stars in Our Eyes event at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham.
Hosted by Sam and Tia, the Oscar-themed celebration was one way of recognising and rewarding their personal, academic and sporting achievements.
Cllr Amanda Chadderton, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Oldham’s Corporate Parenting Panel chairperson said it’s about celebrating our young children and care leavers, as well as supporting them the best we can.
“We want to put all children and young people at the heart of everything we do and at the heart of decision making,” said Councillor Chadderton.
“We know that care leavers face unique and difficult challenges as they transition to independent living, including financial constraints which can cause them to have to make tough choices that they shouldn’t have to face.
“So, we believe it is our duty, as corporate parents to these young and vulnerable people leaving care – who often face tough upbringings and challenges early in life – that we support them in this way and not only hear their voices, but act upon them.”
Councillor Zahid Chauhan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care added: “We’re committed to taking as much pressure away from care leavers and ensuring they live as independent and healthy as possible.
“We are confident that we are meeting our commitment to provide equitable and fair access to treatment for a group of vulnerable people in our care.”
Dr John Patterson, Chief Clinical Officer, added:
“Nobody should be leaving care at 18 and having to face the choice of feeding themselves or paying for medication. This idea was born out of the information we received from the young people of Oldham, and it was our privilege to be able to find a solution to the problems they highlighted.”
Oldham has a dedicated online resource for care leavers, where advice and information is available on subjects including health, wellbeing, managing finances, education and employment opportunities.
Each care leaver also has access to a Passport to Independent Living guide which has been developed by young people in care to help those leaving care to develop skills and knowledge to live independently.
With funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Segelman Trust, Coram Voice, a charity part of the Coram group that supports children in and around the care system, is launching this new phase of the programme, using lessons from the previous phases, to support local authorities to develop their leaving care services with direct involvement from their care leavers.
The full package of support is listed on Oldham Council’s website – www.oldham.gov.uk/careleavers
Visit www.oldhamccg.nhs.uk/careleaversprescriptions if you are a care leaver who needs apply for free prescriptions.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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