Onwards and Upwards

Onwards and Upwards is a project for young people leaving care, for example foster care, delivered by Families First Peterborough CIC. Thanks to support from youth workers, the project means that care leavers feel less lonely and isolated. The project enables young people to make new friends, learn new skills, and be supported into education, employment and training.

Activities include cookery workshops where care leavers learn different recipes, cook on a budget, and learn basic food hygiene.

Drop-in sessions also take place once a month, where young people can have fun, make new friends and enjoy positive activities including trips to the cinema.

A big part of the project’s role has been supporting care leavers to find jobs: from helping them with their job searches, drafting CVs and even applying for college, university and paid work. The project has even bought workwear items to support them to move into employment.

The project also advocates as required on their behalf, supporting care leavers to access appropriate legal advice, access benefits and address accommodation issues.

Having a strong network of partner organisations really helps the project. Partners range from Asda and Sainsbury’s, who regularly donate food, to Job Centre Plus, who have enabled care leavers to access appropriate benefits, avoid sanctions and undertake job searches.

Cherry Lester, Director and Manager, Families First Peterborough CIC, said:

“Thank you so much to Taseef Younas, Hyde’s Projects and Partnerships Manager, and Hyde Charitable Trust for supporting the Onwards and Upwards Project. The project provides vital support for care leavers - everything from drop-in sessions, where they feel safe and know they can access support, to trips out. So many young people are thriving thanks to the project. They are coping better, as they’re now accessing the appropriate benefits and support that they need.”

What care leavers have said about the project (names have been changed):

Joe (a Hyde customer) said: “I’ve really benefited from the project. It’s helped me to access additional support services, obtain a utility hardship grant, receive fortnightly food parcels and address benefit issues.”

Tania: “This project gives me more time to socialise and I’m able to do things I don’t normally do – like go to the cinema or go out for dinner. Without this project I wouldn’t have as much support, nor would I interact with people as much.”

Rae: “This project gives me something to do when I have nothing to do. The activities are really good to socialise and make new friends. I get so much help with anything that I needed to get done and I would be lost without them.”

Noah: “I like coming to The Weekenders as I like to sit and socialise with people. I like playing pool. I live on my own, so coming here is good. I get food parcels on a regular basis and this helps me. The food I get is good and is what I like!”

Yaz: “I enjoy receiving food parcels and support with doing activities and learning to cook. I also like playing games like pool, which helps me to socialise and improve my confidence to try new things.”

Robyn: “My confidence has improved and I feel more involved with people. Experiencing new things and learning how to cook different foods has helped me with cooking more at home and being more adventurous.”

Billy: “I really appreciate all the help I have received; it’s helped me cope better and I am now more confident.”

Find out more about Families First Peterborough CIC.