Relationships and your identity

We want you to have positive, secure, and meaningful relationships with the people who are important to you. Below are the ways we support you in building and maintaining these relationships, as well as in celebrating your identity and community involvement.

Support from Your Young Person’s Advisor (YPA)

You can have a Young Person’s Advisor (YPA) until the age of 25. Your YPA can support you in many ways, including:

• Helping you maintain or re-establish contact with your family, if it is safe to do so.
• Putting you in touch with a Grandmentor – someone who can offer advice and support in many areas of your life. (Add link to Grandmentor leaflet)
• Connecting you with Children in Care Mentors for additional support. (Add link to Mentors leaflet)
• Advising you on how to take up volunteering opportunities to make a difference in your local community.
• Helping you register to vote.
• Providing information on clubs and groups you may wish to join.
• Giving you advice and support to challenge discrimination you may face.

Celebrating You and Your Milestones

• You will receive a birthday card from the Director of Children’s Services on your 18th and 21st birthdays.
• You will receive a £25 birthday gift each year between the ages of 18 and 21.
• You will receive support to access important documents before your 18th birthday, such as your passport, provisional driving licence, and birth certificate.
• If required, you will receive advice and guidance to secure British Citizenship before the age of 18.

Cultural and Religious Support

• If you are under 18 and not living in foster or residential care, you will receive a Religious Festival Allowance of up to £50 per year. This is given during a festival period of your choice, such as Ramadan, Hanukkah, or Christmas.
• We celebrate all our young people’s differences and will support you to attend events that recognise your diversity, such as Pride, religious events, Black History Month, and other cultural celebrations throughout the year.

Community and Participation Opportunities

• At age 17, you can access group conferencing to help reconnect with important people in your life.
• Wolverhampton has a Participation Team that helps care leavers take an active role in designing services. This includes:
  • Membership in the Care Leavers Independent Collective (CLIC).
  • Participation in forums with councillors and senior council officers to improve services.
  • Opportunities to represent Wolverhampton at National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum events.
• You will be involved in planning and invited to events that celebrate your achievements.

Peer Support and Drop-In Services

You can visit the REACH Café drop-in centre every Thursday from 1pm to 6pm. Here, you can meet with your peers, YPAs, and a variety of support services to help with whatever you need.