Cocoon, Care After Care
Will
Hoyle
Trustee
Mission
We exist to improve the current circumstances and future opportunities of young adults age 17-28 who have been in care (foster care, children’s homes, kinship care, supported living) and were looked after by (or live/study or work in) the London Boroughs of Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow.
We aim to improve living conditions, support aspirations, reduce feelings of isolation and alleviate hardship. We strive to find ways of removing obstacles in the way of them having a good standard of living, fulfilling their potential, leading healthier and happier lives and able to participate in society, with the same chances and opportunities afforded to many non-care experienced young people.
We are a safety net for care leavers who do not have a wider support network, and we aim to build a community around them to reduce the negative effects of the well documented 'Care Cliff'; where support from the local authority becomes more limited after 18 and drops away completely between age 21-25. In doing this we increase their long-term support network and connection to their community. With our support we have seen care leavers go from struggling and surviving to being able to take control of their own futures.
Category
Poverty Alleviation
Additional Information
Care-experienced young adults, sometimes known as care leavers, have spent all or part of their childhood in the care of the local authority because they were not able to live with family. There can be a number of reasons why a child cannot remain at home - neglect, abuse, parental illness, the death of one or both parents, relationship breakdown and some have had to flee their home country due to war or persecution. They may have lived with a foster family, in a children's home or supported accommodation. Often children and young people in care can experience multiple moves during their time in care.
Many care-experienced people have experienced trauma and instability, the effects of which are carried into adulthood with many facing multiple challenges. They are forced into independence at a younger age and with less support than their peers who grew up with family.
We are committed to supporting care-experienced young adults to live and thrive, not just survive.
