Support for care experienced apprentices

'Care experienced' refers to individuals who have lived in care at any point in their lives, regardless of the duration or specific setting.

There is additional support available to Care Experienced individuals when looking for an apprenticeship, and when successful in gaining one.

Support available when looking for an apprenticeship

Study, Training and Work Equipment Funding - from Norfolk County Council

Up to £75 might be available to you if you need to buy interview clothes. Additionally, if you will struggle to pay for study or training equipment for a course, for example, catering knives, work boots or books, financial support may be available. Help is available until you turn 25, but not guaranteed. To make a request for this support, speak to your life beyond care worker.

Small Change Grant - from The Mason Trust

Up to £45 could be available from the Mason Trust's 'Small Change grant if you are facing an immediate financial barrier in finding or completing an apprenticeship and other funding options have been exhausted.  The grant is available for people between 16-25, living, working or employed in Norfolk & Suffolk and cover specific items like one-off travel to an interview or equipment needed for work/training.

You can also try and get charity funding. There are several charitable organisations offering support for those with care experience. The Mason Trust also have a list of other funding that you may be eligible for.

Application and Employability Mentoring - from Norfolk County Council 

You can get personalised and tailored employability support to help readiness and for searching and applying for apprenticeships in Norfolk. This includes:

• Apprenticeship awareness sessions
• CV writing
• Vacancy searching
• Interview preparation

For this support from the Pathways to Work team, please get in touch here.

Additional Support - The Care Leaver Covenant

The Care Leaver Covenant supports care experienced individuals a variety of ways, including access to apprenticeship opportunities, support and mentoring, training, experience, and discounts.

To find out more, please click the following link to take you to The Care Leaver Covenant's website: Care Leavers Wanted - Care Leaver Covenant

Support available once you have gained an apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Care Leavers' Bursary - from HM Government

If you are a new apprentice (either in care or care experienced), you can access a £3,000 bursary grant from the Government. 

You are eligible to receive the bursary after 60 days on your apprenticeship programme, with the bursary paid in instalments over first year of your apprenticeship. To receive this bursary you must disclose your care experience to your training provider during the on boarding process and provide them with a letter from your Life After Care worker.

Apprenticeship Top-Up Scheme - from Norfolk County Council

If you decide to do an apprenticeship, you may be eligible for the apprenticeship top-up scheme. This is a weekly amount paid to you by Norfolk County Council if financial support is required to enable you to complete your apprenticeship and maintain your accommodation.

Once you start applying for apprenticeships your Life Beyond Care worker will complete an apprenticeship top-up calculation with you. You will then know what your total income will be if you accept an apprenticeship offer. 

The exact amount of extra financial support you might receive from us will depend on your apprenticeship salary, outgoings and what state benefits you are entitled to. 

We will review the amount of additional financial support you get every six months as part of your pathway plan review. We will also review it if your income or outgoings change significantly.  

You do not have to pay any income tax or national insurance contributions on the money you receive from us as part of our apprenticeship top-up scheme.

Norfolk Support Line - from Norfolk County Council

Offered to apprentices with care experience and their employer (if required):

• Confidential Support; 24/7, 365 days a year (free telephone number).
• Virtual and Face to Face counselling.
• Self help workbooks > advice and guidance on a wide range of topics; from anxiety to depression and stress to sleeping problems.
• Podcasts and blogs > covering a range of mental health and wellbeing topics.
• Impartial help and advice on practical life skills and coping strategies for emergency situations.

For access to the Norfolk Support Line, please contact us here