Education, Children and Families Convenor Cllr James Dalgleish writes in the Evening News today about the ways our Aftercare and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children Team support young people.
The transition from childhood into young adulthood can be challenging for any young person, but for those with care-experience this period can present a unique set of challenges for life beyond care.
In Edinburgh, the Aftercare and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) Team support around 1,200 young people who are care leavers and have spent all or part of their childhood in care - and some of whom began their journey as UASC. The team supports young adults aged 16-26 years old to ensure they feel prepared and empowered as they move towards independence.
The Aftercare and UASC Team aim to build a sense of community, strengthen social connection and offer practical help to support young people’s wellbeing and development - mirroring the informal support networks that young people benefit from in this phase of life.
We know from speaking to care experienced young people that the main concerns they have are around housing instability, issues accessing employment, barriers to further education and challenges around mental health, emotional wellbeing, identity and connection.
Practically, and alongside key partners we help young people access and prepare for education, job applications and interviews, offer advice on housing options and provide opportunities to build relationships and to maintain positive physical and mental health.
Last year alone, we supported over 100 young people through our drop-in housing and job support sessions, resulting in 245 targeted employment interventions alongside ongoing positive follow-up engagement. We also provided 70 food parcels and over 100 clothing and household items, offering immediate support when it was needed.
We know that central to all of this is building a foundation of trust with young people and making sure our spaces are inclusive, responsive, welcoming and grounded in lived experience.
We work closely with valued partners and with the people who matter most to each young person, while ensuring their voice is at the heart of all planning and decision-making. This is achieved through consistent, relationship-based support and our pledge to Keeping the Promise
This week we held a Have Your Say Participation Day to gather meaningful feedback from young people with different lived experience of care. Through asking questions and listening our “You said, we did” approach puts the voices of young people at the centre of how we design and deliver services.
Our ultimate goal is continued connection with those who access the service to ensure their insights, ongoing feedback and evaluation shapes how we deliver services to care leavers.
We have a vital role to play in supporting care experienced young people to feel, safe, loved, welcomed and respected as they move into adulthood. It all starts with hearing the voices of young people, acknowledging their lived experiences and ensuring that this continues to shape the services and support we offer now and in the future.