Nene Valley Care Trust (NVCT)

Nene Valley Care Trust (NVCT) is a local charity that funds projects aimed at giving young care leavers the support, guidance and confidence they need in accessing education, training and jobs.

The project offers intensive support to care leavers and organises apprenticeships with local businesses. It also works with further education colleges to help young people to access training, education and employment.

“Our scheme is unique in that it supports young people long after they have found education or work,” says Berni Lane, co-director of Right Resolution CIC, which delivers the project on behalf of the NVCT. “It could be anything from going to pick them up every morning if there are no local transport options, to buying them appropriate clothes for an interview, to keeping in regular contact with their employers or tutors, to ensuring they are making the most of the opportunities available to them.”

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Our Unique Offer 

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• We will commit to work with young people for as long as it takes 

Many training providers have limited periods for which they can work with young people. At Right Resolution we recognize that care leavers have complex needs and are individuals, therefore the time needed to build trust, confidence and independence will differ. We are prepared to continue with interventions with young people beyond 12 months if the need is evident.

We will provide the practical lifeskills support that is needed

Our Youth Support Workers are prepared to support the young person in achieving practical tasks and developing their lifeskills as it is appreciated that engaging with and sustaining education or employment requires that needs are met in other aspects of their lives (Maslow, 1954; Aldefer,1972). Examples include assisting with food shopping, providing interview clothes and helping a young person to settle in their accommodation. Transport is a significant barrier, therefore the Youth Support Workers are able to provide this for key appointments, interviews and until a young person is confident to travel independently to the location of their training or employment.

We will enable young people to return to the service if needed 

From our experience of interventions with young people leaving care, they may need to return to the service for further support if, for example, their circumstances change and this puts at risk their job or education.

Experience shows that young people who return to a service and usually a practitioner who they already have a relationship with is more effective and that they are more likely to reengage.

We will have direct contact with each young person once a week

We value the building of trusting, consistent and professional relationships with young people leaving care.

Young people who have entered the care system because adults have let them down, need and want regular, reliable contact from appropriately experienced and trained workers who they engage with on a voluntary basis following youth work and social pedagogy principles (Dixon, 2008; NCB, 2013).