Around £10 million will be made available to care leavers over the next five years, a charitable organisation has announced.
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation distributes grants intended to improve social welfare and the quality of life. It was established in 1961 by city investor Bruce Fairbairn in honour of his late wife.
In a new initiative, approximately £2 million per year will be released to organisations who provide services and support for care leavers, in particular those focused on helping these frequently vulnerable young people develop strong relationships and move into adulthood. Projects that focus on the provision of statutory support for them will also be eligible for funding.
Esmée Fairbairn Chief Executive Caroline Mason stressed that the charity would be looking for opportunities to make the most impact with their money.
“We’ve always been committed to funding organisations that help prepare young people to leave care. This new approach is deliberately based on evidence of the challenges faced by those young people. It means we can now focus our support on outcomes that matter most.”
Applications for the grants are now open, with the first awards expected in 2017.
