Support for care leavers in Portsmouth grows as major national programme expands
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) has received an additional £40,000 to boost vital support for young people leaving care across the region including in Portsmouth.
The funding is part of the Care Leavers Programme, launched in 2024 by the Local Authorities' Mutual Investment Trust (LAMIT) and UK Community Foundations (UKCF) in collaboration with investment manager CCLA. The multi-year initiative helps care leavers to survive and thrive as they take their first steps into independent adulthood.
In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, HIWCF has already used the programme to fund 3 community organisations working with 91 care experienced individuals directly, offering support including practical help around housing and advice, mentoring and confidence-building opportunities.
New national investment of £1.7 million over three years from The Henry Smith Foundation, announced this week, will expand the programme to 14 new areas across the UK – including Northern Ireland and Wales – and increase the total national value of the fund to £7 million with matched contributions. This will significantly extend the reach and longevity of local support.
Here in Portsmouth, the expansion means HIWCF can continue and deepen its tailored support to meet the needs of young people leaving care with organisations including Motiv8, a youth charity working across Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport and Fareham.
For many care leavers, support funded through HIWCF is opening up opportunities that would have otherwise been out of reach.
Kelly, who began receiving help through Motiv8 at age 19, said: "Before I joined Motiv8, I didn’t believe I was worth anything or had anyone to talk to... Now I believe I can achieve anything I put my mind to and be a good role model for others that need it."
Jacqui Scott, HIWCF CEO commented: “Through our partnerships with Sovereign Network Group (SNG), CCLA and now with the kind support of the Henry Smith Foundation, we’ll aim to make a total of £252,000 available over three years to deliver our tailored work with care leavers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Entering its second year of delivery, we want our Care Leavers Programme to help rewrite the narrative for some of the most vulnerable young people in our region, helping remove barriers and face their futures with hope. This fund is supporting community rooted organisations tackle a persistent truth: that young people leaving the care system face disproportionate levels of disadvantage – financial, emotional, and systemic.”
Find out more about HIWCF and how you can help at hiwcf.org.uk