Education, training and employment

Your personal adviser or social worker will help you to achieve the best possible opportunities for education, training and employment, and will work with anyone else who can help you.

Shropshire Virtual School supports care leavers up to the end of year 13 with advice around routes into education, employment and training – and offers support/advice for the transition beyond Key Stage 5. There is an offer on the Virtual School website to show what is available for students in Key Stage 5 – for information see key stage five and supporting aspirations pages.

Apprenticeships

We've created apprenticeship opportunities for care leavers in several parts of children’s services and within the wider council. For more details, please contact the Leaving Care Team Manager on 01743 254590.

Help with the cost of full time education or attending university

Your personal adviser will discuss the financial and any other support that we'll provide you with to support you whilst you're in full time education or attending university. If you're a former relevant care leaver and you enter a higher education course, we'll provide you with financial support.

The support available will be discussed with you. You will however, always be provided with the following if you need it:

A weekly living allowance
A bursary of £2,000 divided over the length of your course
Help and support with the cost of accommodation during holidays. Support to communicate with a nominated support worker at the university to ensure all necessary support is provided
Support with educational equipment/materials

There's also a 16 -19-year-old bursary. Young people in care and care leavers are guaranteed a £1,200 bursary if you stay in full-time further education. We'll help you to get in touch with an education provider (school or college) to find out how to claim the bursary.