In-care and leaving care
Being in-care
If it hasn’t been possible for you to be looked after by your parents, you may have spent some of your life so far in care, either in a children’s home or with foster carers.
When you are in care the Children's Rights Service can make sure you are treated fairly and give you information and advice. They will help you to:
- get your views heard,
- complain if you think you have been treated unfairly,
- find out more about being in care and the services you can access.
They can also attend meetings with you and help you get legal advice.
You can find out more about the Children's Rights Service including how to contact them on the Leicester City Council website if you live in Leicester. Or on Leicestershire County Council website if you live Leicestershire.
Activities for young people in care
Leicester Youth Service runs activities for young people in care who live in Leicester.
If you would like to take part in any of the activities please contact:
Robin Winterton
telephone: 0116 256 8227 or 07870559357
email: robin.winterton@leicester.gov.uk
| Venue | Activity | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester college | Maintaining and Decorating (MAD) project. | Thursday | 5.00pm to 8.00pm |
| Rainer, 12 Upperton road, Leicester |
Leicester Care Leavers group | Wednesday | 6.00pm to 7.30pm |
| St. Margarets pastures, Leicester |
Football friendly for looked after children and 15+ care leavers | Tuesday | 6.00pm to 7.00pm |
| 124 Wigston Lane, Leicester | Managing your own home. Life skills project. | Tuesday | 5.00pm to 8.30pm |
| Rainer, 12 Upperton road, Leicester |
Make your own radio show (this takes place as part of the care leavers group) | Wednesday | 6.00pm to 7.30pm |
Higher education summer schools
Are you in care or leaving care and thinking about going to university?
Then don't miss your chance to find out what university life is really like on a higher education summer school. It's a great opportunity to:
- meet new people and make new friends
- take part in some great academic and social activities
- increase your confidence
- think about your options after you leave school or college
What's more it's all free, including all meals, activities and transport.
Summer schools will run on 1st and 2nd July 2008 at the University of Leicester, Loughborough University and De Montfort University.
If you would like to attend please ask your social worker, designated teacher, or Connexions personal adviser about booking your place.
Want to find out more? Download the Higher Education Experience 2008 leaflet.
Contacts
Leicestershire
County Council: Services for looked after children
Includes info on the Children's Rights Service, Education, Social Work, Corporate Parenting, Time 2 Change, and the 16+ Service.
Leicester
City Council: Fostering, Adoption and looked after children
Services for young people in care living in Leicester.
Website offering help, advice, and information to young people in care
Find out about your rights in care and get your voice heard.
National organisation that helps young people in care by speaking up for them about the things that they want changed.
A national organisation run for and by young people in care.
Unaccompanied asylum seekers
An asylum seeker is someone who leaves their own country for their own safety, often for political reasons or because of war, and who travels to another country hoping the government will protect them and allow them to live there. Unaccompanied asylum seekers (under 18s who arrive in the country without a parent or carer) will usually be looked after by social services.
They will have the same rights as other young people in care and access to the Children's Rights Service.
Unaccompannied asylum seekers are not usually allowed to work. However you are allowed to undertake voluntary work. This can help to you improve your employment prospects and make a contribution to your local community. You can find out more about voluntary work on our volunteering page.
Contacts
Refugee Action
National charity that works with refugees to help them
build new lives in the UK.
National organisation offering help and support to asylum seekers and refugees.
The
Immigration Advisory Service (IAS)
National charity providing representation and
advice in immigration and asylum law.
Home
Office- Borders and Immigration Agency
Information on applications for permission to stay, citizenship and asylum.
Refugee & Asylum
Seekers Advice Project (RASAP)
Local project offering support, information and
advice for refugees settling in the city. Project workers can help
with a wide range of issues including housing, benefits, employment
and training.
Last Updated: 20-Feb-2008
