Agenda item

The Senior Partnerships Officer delivered a short presentation on the opening of the Care Leavers’ Hub which took place on 28 February, attended by Councillors Simmons, Walton and Henderson. The Hub, which is located in Sherburn, is a multi-agency project which provides a safe space for care leavers.  The project offers care leavers the opportunity to participate in structured group work, with a schedule of activities including a Sunday Lunch Club.  The young people can also use the laundry and access support with other practical skills and job applications, in addition to spending time with friends.

The Chair commented on the impressive facilities and the range of support available. When asked if there was any other support the young people would like to see, the young people mentioned that they would like more support with travel costs to attend interviews and medical appointments. 

The Panel expressed concern that care leavers had raised transport costs as an issue on several previous occasions.  Councillor Gunn said how pleased she was to see this project come to fruition and emphasised how important accessibility will be to the project’s success.  She expressed her concern that there was more work to be done with regard to providing assistance with travel costs and commented that a corporate parent’s aspirations for children looked after should be exactly the same as all parent's aspirations for their own child, adding that they should be respected and their independence should be promoted.

Councillor Charlton asked whether there was scope to offer assistance through the Link2 bus service.  Councillor Hovvels pointed out that priority is given to members of the public with health or mobility issues and she added her support for more assistance with travel costs and urged the Panel to make representations for policy change. Councillor Deinali referred to the Council’s recent allocation of £2 million of savings for short term support to bus services in County Durham and questioned whether some of that money could have been allocated to provide concessionary travel for young people, in addition to supporting bus services.