John Lewis Partnership reveals impact of programme for care experienced people

The John Lewis Partnership has revealed its third annual Impact Report for its Building Happier Futures (BHF) programme to support care experienced people.

Part of the John Lewis Partnership Foundation, the BHF fund awards grants for UK projects to provide education, connection, experience and fun for care experienced people and to date has raised £2.8m and supported 26 charities.

In addition, the John Lewis Partnership and the Open University have jointly funded 22 scholarships for care experienced people.

The impact report, released to mark National Care Leavers Month, also confirms the BHF employability programme is now accessible in every John Lewis and Waitrose shop, including John Lewis Cheadle.

Alongside the launch, Foster carers and kinship carers from the Partnership met Josh MacAlister, Minister for Children & Families and Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner, to discuss how employers can better support carers and accelerate employment opportunities for the care experienced community. The Partnership is using its voice to call on the Government to strengthen support for kinship and foster carers during the ongoing review of the parental leave system.

As the largest accredited Fostering Friendly organisation, the Partnership offers an additional week of paid leave to its Partners who are foster and kinship carers, helping them balance work with their vital responsibilities.

To further the cause, the John Lewis Partnership is calling for businesses to introduce tailored recruitment and employability programmes to support people leaving care to explore the world of work, as well as policies that offer employees the flexibility they need to provide support to children and young people coming into their care.

Sarah Scahill, Building Happier Futures Lead at the John Lewis Partnership, who hosted the event, said:

“There is a major national shortage of foster carers, leaving many children without a stable background and unable to fulfil their potential. As a large, purpose-led business, we have a responsibility to help break down such barriers to opportunity, and there is more work to be done across Government, business and society.

“We pledge to continue to learn from experts in the community but we also need policies that provide for the needs of carers and those they care for. And we invite other businesses to stand with us in supporting employees who provide foster or kinship care to give the very best home to the children in their care.”

Children and Families Minister, Josh MacAlister, said:

“We need more of our big employers to do their bit to support some of the most vulnerable children in our society. Whether that’s helping young care experienced people with a leg up on the career ladder, or supporting employees who are kinship or foster carers.

“The John Lewis Partnership is a great example of what employers can do in this area. This Care Leavers Month I am issuing a call to action to the great British business community to step up to the plate and deliver for young people in care.

“I would also encourage employers to sign up to the government-funded Care Leaver Covenant.”