As we prepare for National Care Leavers Week, we wanted to share some good news around our Grow, Achieve, Learn (GAL) Programme and detail how we support our young people, especially as they prepare to leave care.
What is GAL?
We want all young people to be fully prepared for living independently. All of our young people are supported to engage with the Grow, Achieve, Learn Skills Award. This is an independence skills development programme that looks at financial, practical, social and emotional wellbeing, online safety and skills development. Education Advisors (EAGALs) work with foster families and young people to oversee the progress throughout the programme, with the goal of young people completing the Skills Award and receiving their reward and a £50 voucher.
We deliver the programme through a variety of ways, including workshops (both in person and online), 1-2-1 work, and checklist assessment. In our East Anglia & South East regions we have piloted the ASDAN Focus programme for use with our young people with Additional or Learning needs and this can now be rolled out across all our branches.
We have reviewed the list of young people in our care who are turning 18 this year, and out of 66 we are pleased to report that 43 have completed the programme. Additionally we have 20+ other children who completed their programme during the pandemic who have already left By the Bridge. The remaining young people on our list have started the programme and have had an introductory session with their EAGAL.
Breaking News! We have developed our own online learning App
In addition to delivering sessions in person and online during COVID, we have developed our own App to deliver the GAL content to our young people who want to work independently using their smartphone or computers. This app is now in user-testing with groups of young people, and will be available for all once testing is complete.
Wheel of Success Assessment Tool
Some of our children complete their GAL from age 14, and may need a refresher as they approach 18, so we have also developed a Wheel of Success tool to be used with young people aged 16+. This is a self-assessment tool compiled in conjunction with the young person and can be used as a pre-and post-intervention tool.
Leaving Care
All children leaving care are meant to have a Personal Advisor and Pathway Plan provided by the Local Authority. The Wheel of Success tool can be used to evidence a young person's perspective of how prepared they feel they are for moving on. Some LA’s have better systems in place than others.
There is a great new comparison tool which was released this week - Care Leaver Local Offer: Home (careleaveroffer.co.uk). This tool allows young people and those supporting them to look at, what in detail, is offered to care leavers across the country.
If you are a new or existing Foster Parent and would like more information about our GAL programme, please contact By the Bridge Education Manager, Caroline Hallett
If you are a Supervising Social Worker, working with a young person who requires further support around preparation for independence, please get in touch with your local EAGAL.