If you need any help and support, you can directly contact:
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your personal adviser (make sure you have their number saved)
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a social worker in the Children in Care team on 0208 359 6001
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a social worker or personal adviser at Onwards and Upwards on 0208 359 6220
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a adviser within the Virtual School on 0208 359 4534
Support for care leavers
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Become: freephone advice line for care leavers. Call 0800 023 2033, Monday to Friday, 10.30am–5pm, or visit www.becomecharity.org.uk
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Capstone Care Leavers Trust: provides grants for care leavers aged 17–25. Visit www.capstonecareleaverstrust.org
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Rees: The Care Leavers’ Foundation: gives advice, and financial and community support. Visit www.reesfoundation.org
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Sir William Boreman’s Foundation: provides grants to help people under 25, who live in Greenwich and Lewisham, access education. Visit www.thedrapers.co.uk
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The Skinner’s Company: provides grants and helps to access training. Visit www.skinners.org.uk
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The Spark Foundation: provides grants up to £600 for young people in care and care leavers. Visit www.sparkfoundation.org.uk
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Turn2us: helps people see what grants and benefits they can get. Visit www.turn2us.org.uk
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National Care Advisory Service (NCAS) Web: www.leavingcare.org The latest news and information on all issues relating to transitions from care and care leavers are available of the NCAS website.
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Benefits information Web: www.gov.uk The latest news and information on benefits will be available on this national website. You can search for individual benefits and use the ‘benefits calculator’ interactive tool that can help you find out what benefits you may be entitled to.
Employment and education
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Drive Forward Foundation: helps care leavers to get into work. Visit ww.driveforwardfoundation.com
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Princes Trust: provides support for jobs, training and education. Visit www.princes-trust.org.uk
Finances
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The Money House: helps young people learn budgeting skills. Visit www.mybnk.org
Health
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My Health London: Visit www.myhealth.london.nhs.uk for information about NHS services.
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NHS 111: 24-hour urgent care phone line on 111 (in emergency call 999). Visit ww.england.nhs.uk/urgent-emergency-care
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Mind: mental health charity which offers advice and support. Visit www.mind.org.uk
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Samaritans: call the free 24-hour helpline on 116 123. Visit www.samaritans.org
Parenting
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Find your local children’s centre in Barnet at https://www.barnet.gov.uk/directories/childrens-centres
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The range of support for Barnet parents and carers can be found at: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/children-and-families/support-parents-and-carers
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A menu of Barnet support services can be found at: https://familyservices.barnet.gov.uk/SynergyWeb_Live/MOI/
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For advice on all aspects of family life, from bonding with your new baby, dealing with tantrums, discipline and communicating, contact Family lives on 0808 800 2222 or email them for support on askus@familylives.org.uk . You can visit their website at: https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/
LGBTQ
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METRO: services to support young LGBT people. Visit www.metrocentreonline.org
Immigration
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Refugee Council: support for refugees. Call 020 7346 1134, email mytime@refugeecouncil.org.uk, or visit www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
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Migrant Children’s Project: call 0207 636 8505, Tuesday to Thursday, 10am–12 noon, email mcpadvice@coramclc.org.uk or visit www.coram.org.uk
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Red Cross: support, advocacy and family-finding service. Visit www.redcross.org.uk
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Afghanistan and Central Asian Association: 24 Deptford Broadway, Deptford SE8 4PA. Email info@acaa.org.uk or visit www.acaa.org.uk
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Migrant Help: Free asylum helpline 0808 8000 630 – asylum guide translated into 15 languages
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Refugee Action:– Help and advice for refugees and asylum seekers on issues, including the asylum process and how to access support
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Leaving care support for migrant children and young people – factsheet [External link]
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More advice about immigration, asylum and nationality [External link] – the migrant children’s project
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Asylum helpline UK – phone 0808 8000 630