Education, Training & Career

We have high aspirations for you, you can use this section to find out about the ways that you can stay in education or get into work.

You will have access to a dedicated Connexions adviser who will help you with careers information and advice.
We will give you information and support you to apply for apprenticeships and other employment opportunities through Think Sandwell and Connexions
We will help you get ready for interviews. If you need clothes for interviews we can help you with that too.
We guarantee an interview for any job in Sandwell Children’s Trust providing you meet the person specification.
We are working with our partners to develop a Sandwell pledge for Care Experienced Young People.
We will provide work experience opportunities at Sandwell Children’s Trust.
You can receive a £3000 bursary if you become an apprentice (Bursary is the name given to a grant that you receive to help you study). Click here for more details
We will help you celebrate your achievements and successes, and host an annual event for you to share this success with people that are important to you.
We will support you if you want to do voluntary work or gain work experience.

Additional services are available for Care Leavers depending on your status.

Children and young people with a disability have access to the Send Local Offer which is tailored specifically to your needs.

This section explains what is provided for each leaver status.

You will have a Personal Education Plan (PEP) and Sandwell’s Virtual School will help you to succeed in your learning.
We can help with transport costs when travelling to school, college, apprenticeships and job interviews.
If you are in education or employment you can access a 16-18 photocard that means you can buy bus, tram and train tickets at child prices.

If you go to university we will give you a £3000 bursary to help with the costs of books, materials and equipment. This will be split across the number of years that the course lasts for. For apprentices who start their apprenticeships up to and including 31 July 2023, the bursary is a single payment of £1,000. (See note below)
We can visit University open days with you or help with your travel costs.
We will support you to claim the maximum entitlement from Student Finance for tuition fees and a maintenance loan.
We will help pay your rent when you are on holiday from University.
Universities also offer bursaries for Care Leavers. You can see which universities offer this by visiting www.propel.org.uk