Care leavers who choose to start an apprenticeship are to receive a £1,000 bursary to help the transition into the workplace, the Government announced yesterday.
The bursary, which will come into effect in August 2018, will be for 16-24 year olds who start an apprenticeship after they leave care.
The Children’s Society has warned that care leavers often ‘struggled to make ends meet’ once they took up an apprenticeship.
The charity welcomed the new bursary and said it would make apprenticeships a ‘more viable option.’
‘We know those leaving care can experience additional barriers to getting an apprenticeship,’ said apprenticeships and skills minister Anne Milton.
‘Everyone should get a chance to be able to start an apprenticeship and change their life, so I’m really pleased that as we see how we can make the apprenticeship system work better we are able to offer this extra support for those leaving care.’