A Year of Growth and Achievement

Posted: 8 April 2025 1:00 pm.

We are delighted to share some exciting updates from North West Care Leavers (NWCL), including our successful Ofsted registration in July 2024. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to supporting young people as they transition into independent living.

Growth and Expansion

Over the past year, NWCL has experienced substantial growth. In July 2023, we were supporting 55 young people and providing 52 units of accommodation. Today, those numbers have nearly doubled—we now support 93 young people across 92 accommodation units, with an additional 8 units in development as we prepare for new referrals and move-ins.

Key Partnerships and Contracts

Our expansion has been driven by strong partnerships with local authorities, leading to new block contract agreements that enhance our ability to provide stable housing for care leavers and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC).

• Tameside: Since April 2023, we have been providing 12 units of accommodation through a block contract, comprising two six-bed HMOs dedicated to UASC and care leavers.
• Stockport: In November 2023, we proposed a block contract agreement, which has now been formalized for four placements, with plans to expand further.
• Trafford: In March 2024, we secured an agreement to provide three accommodation units for Trafford UASC, with potential for additional placements in the future.

Recognition for Outstanding Service

Our dedication to providing high-quality support has been recognized by Sefton authority, which highlighted the strength and transparency of our service delivery:

"Consistently strong service delivery leads to typically positive experiences and progress for children. This was a very positive visit. Transparency was the running motif throughout this visit, with every aspect of the Stepping Stone project business model made available for scrutiny and discussed openly and honestly between both parties."

Our NWCL Service was also awarded Tema of the year at our 2024 colleague conference.

As we continue to grow, we remain committed to delivering the highest standards of care and support for young people in the North West. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships and expanding our services to meet the increasing needs of care leavers in our communities.

For more information or to discuss potential collaborations, please get in touch with us.

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