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Care leaver was 'terrified' ahead of 18th birthday

BBC Elle Johnson is looking at the camera with a faint smile, she has a pale jacket on and black turtleneck jumper, and is wearing a lanyard. She is standing in front of a weeping willow beside the canal in Ely.BBC
Elle Johnson insisted young people leaving care would not be "forgotten about"

A woman who was "terrified" when she left the care system when she turned 18 is now helping young people going through the same experience.

Elle Johnson, 24, helps the estimated 400 young people leaving care in Cambridgeshire each year with finding accommodation, and study and work.

Miss Johnson, from Downham Market, Norfolk, says councils work as "corporate parents", stepping in for those young people without a family network.

"It's really helpful for me to say to the young person, I've been there, I've done this, it's going to be okay," she said.

"You're not going to be just dropped into your house and forgotten about."

Miss Johnson grew up in care and said she was "really scared" at the prospect of going to university, but benefitted from having a personal adviser to talk her through what support she would be eligible for.

She said numerous questions were flashing through her mind, such as simply where would she live during the holidays.

"I had several conversations about what it was going to look like – it's perfectly natural to be scared of these things," she added.

Elle Johnson is looking at the camera, wearing a long light-coloured coat, white shoes, and black top and trousers. She is smiling and standing in front of a weeping willow on a canal towpath in Ely
Miss Johnson said making plans for life after turning 18 was "well planned-for"

Care leavers are assigned a personal adviser to help them with the transition into adulthood.

That could mean help with finding financial support, moving into a new home, getting to work placements or help with job interviews.

"[I'll] help with your boxes and help you put up some of your decorations and take a houseplant to you as your mum, dad, guardian carer would do," said Miss Johnson.

"As corporate parents that is our responsibility and that's a good bit of the job."

Ben Schofield/BBC Dennis Jones is wearing a light blue suit and looking at the camera, behind him are some signs with Peterborough City Council written on themBen Schofield/BBC
Dennis Jones, Peterborough City Council's leader, said the authority has "high aspirations" for care leavers

Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council say they have recently improved their support for care leavers, including updating the information on what local help is available.

Dennis Jones, the leader of Peterborough City Council, said its local offer had been "dramatically improved", including hiring more personal advisers and trying to reach harder-to-engage young people.

He said: "We are proud corporate parents to all the children and young people in our care and just like any other parent we have high aspirations for our children."

Young people aged between 16 and 25 who have previously been in a care setting can request support at any point, if needed.

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