In this episode we are joined by Teslimah and Keeley, two care-experienced young people working in the Civil Service via the Care Leaver Internship Scheme!

The Civil Service Care Leaver Internship is a 12-month paid position that is ring-fenced for care leavers to help them start a career within government!

Listen and laugh to all the dos and don'ts when it comes to navigating this exciting workplace!

*At the time of recording Liz Truss had resigned from UK Government.

Intro & outro music sourced from pixabay.com
Artists: Asepirawan20 & jorikbasov

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At Drive Forward, we help care-experienced young people get into fulfilling and sustainable employment.

In this episode, we are joined by Claudia Roehlen, one of Drive Forward's Programme Managers who is leading our latest early intervention programme, ASPIRE!

Claudia explains how early intervention is necessary to set up care-experienced young people for success going through the system and when they reach the first stages of becoming independent adults.

We are currently taking referrals for ASPIRE before 14th October for looked after young people in year 11 or 12 (aged 15-18) who are either engaging in education or are at risk of becoming NEET.

Get in touch to sign up or for further information contact Claudia Roehlen at claudia@driveforwardfoundation.org or call 07384 314 079.

Intro & outro music sourced from pixabay.com
Artists: Asepirawan20 & jorikbasov

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At Drive Forward, we help care-experienced young people get into fulfilling and sustainable employment.

In this episode, we are joined by Chris Wild who generously shares his time in care, how it has shaped his career today and his involvement with the Independent Review of Children's Social Care.

Chris is an author, care home consultant, government advisor, national youth advisor for young people and charity patron.

Please note that this episode contains issues that can be upsetting to listeners. If you need support you can contact Mind.

If you want to learn more about Drive Forward check out our website.


Intro & outro music sourced from pixabay.com
Artists: Asepirawan20 & jorikbasov

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Drive Forward Foundation a charity that focuses on helping care-experienced young people get into fulfilling and sustainable employment. A key barrier to employment can be the lack of mental health support for care-experienced young people as this is one of many services that drop off once care-experienced young people become 18.

In this episode we're talking to Vasiliki Papoutsi, who is a Clinical Specialist for Looked After Children & Leaving Care and an Art Psychotherapist on the Westminster CAMHS LAC Intervention Team, to learn how they're doing mental health differently to help address the gaps in mental health support.

In her unique role of working with the NHS and Westminster local authority, Vasiliki shares some helpful tips and resources to facilitate a more holistic approach to mental health.

Check them out using the links below:

• https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/mindfulness/
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio/
• https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/
• https://hubofhope.co.uk/

If you're care-experienced and want to access Drive Forward's counselling services, click here.

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Drive Forward Foundation a charity that focusses on helping care-experienced young people get into fulfilling and sustainable employment. In order to do that we need to know what is the care system to truly understand what it means to be care-experienced and how we can best support our young people.

Listen to Kara one of our Policy Forum members about their campaign to reduce the unnecessary criminalisation of care-experienced young people:

Children aged 16 and 17 living in children’s homes are at least 15 times more likely to be criminalised than other children of the same age.

The Howard League for Penal Reform

Through her lived experienced, Kara explains why this campaign is so important, the successes they've had in the 3 years it's been running and her future hopes.

Read more about their work and take a look at the London wide protocol - the document that's bringing together the London Metropolitan Police, social workers, local authorities and other charity organisations.

If you want to learn more about Drive Forward check out our website.

Intro & outro music sourced from pixabay.com
Artists: Asepirawan20 & jorikbasov

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Drive Forward Foundation a charity that focusses on helping care-experienced young people get into fulfilling and sustainable employment. In order to do that we need to know what is the care system to truly understand what it means to be care-experienced and how we can best support our young people.

Listen to one of our Senior Employment Consultants, Nicholl Hardwick, explain the system, the challenges it presents and how our work at Drive Forward is changing the experience of care for the better!

If you're care-experienced and want to know about the Care Leaver Offer please click here.

If you want to learn more about our work or want to partner with us please click here.

Intro & outro music sourced from pixabay.com
Artists: Asepirawan20 & jorikbasov

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It's National Apprenticeship Week 2022 and we're sharing Joseph's experience of his apprenticeship in Digital Marketing!

Apprenticeships are great opportunities for care-experienced young people because they provide real work experience and a chance to earn a qualification all whilst being paid!

"I chose to do an apprenticeship because it's a great way to learn whilst actually doing the job. I get support from the Multiverse coaches who help me throughout the apprenticeship and I also get paid whilst learning. So, I thought it made sense to try out an apprenticeship because it’s a great alternative to university at this moment." - Joseph

Since this recording Joseph has gone onto be nominated for the BAME Apprenticeship Awards works! The awards work in partnership with Pearson to showcase the outstanding work and achievement of apprentices from black & minority ethnic groups (BAME), and inspires BAME apprentices to reach their full potential.

Check out our latest blog for the full story!

Want to support care-experienced young people in starting their career? Contact us!

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"I set up Drive Forward Foundation to address an injustice." - Martha Wansbrough (1961 - 2021)

In memory of Drive Forward Foundation's founder and long-term CEO, Martha Wansbrough, we'd love to share this interview between Martha and Joy Millani, one of our care-experienced young people on her podcast series 'Girl, Just Start-Up!'

Martha dedicated over 20 years to supporting disadvantaged youth to achieve their full potential. From Russia to the UK, she worked with local experts and corporate partners to develop programmes that help young people live more independently. Martha founded the UK Genesis Programme in April 2010, which has since evolved into a holistic service model tailored to enabling care-experienced young people to achieve their full potential through sustainable employment.

We honour her memory by continuing to fight for and support care-experienced young people with the same passion and dedication as Martha.

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