Our Impact

 

Caring Connections Project

Caring Connections delivers 1-2-1, zoom and digital interactions for children in care or care leavers connecting them with free bespoke: supported access to a range of mental health resources and services; extra curricula education opportunities/resources; and access to training, mentoring and employment support. Beneficiaries achieved: increased health and wellbeing; improved education participation and attainment; and increased employability.

 

Caring Connections April 2023 to March 2024

Annual Infographic

 

Caring Connections April 2022 to March 2023

Annual Infographic

 

Caring Connections November 2020 to March 2022

In November 2020 we launched our Caring Connections 1-year pilot project funded by 6 grants including: The National Lottery Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund, Scott Bader Commonwealth Limited, the National Lottery Awards for All England and The Faraway Children’s Charity.

 

The project responds directly to our consultation in 2019-20 to identify the top priorities for looked after children and care leavers. We also needed to mitigate the compounding impact Covid-19 has had on their existing adversity and challenges.

 

Given the challenges of Covid-19 we worked in partnership with regional registered charity, Service Six, to deliver the project. The pilot was a great success, we met and exceeded targets and outcomes. The pilot results are below.

 

Caring Connections pilot project infographic: click to view

 

Based on the pilot success and demand, in November 2021, we continued the Caring Connections project with a view to increasing capacity over-time.

 

Charity Children’s Home Model of Excellence

As a result of our Coalition with UK charity, The Crysalys Foundation, in April 2021 Stand Out Northamptonshire convened and led a working group of cross-sector county organisations, towards co-producing a model of excellence for a sustainable not-for-profit and trauma-informed children’s home. Essentially, to improve, the predominantly poor, outcomes and impacts care leavers experience locally and in the UK. In 2021-22 the working group held 10 zoom meetings attended by 19 professionals from diverse disciplines representing 21 organisations. The core sustained group of organisations throughout the year included:

 

Nene Valley Care Trust

Right Resolutions CIC

Service Six

The Crysalys Foundation

The Faraway Children’s Charity

The University of Northampton

Modern Human

The Mallows Company

NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board

 

In 2021, we undertook a consultation with children in care and care leavers which we added to our working group progress and collated a model of excellence with informal and formal versions below.

 

Informal Version / Formal Version

 

In 2021 to 2025 we received grants from The Linder Foundation to help to develop the model. At mid-2024 we have a model, a project plan, a project budget and we are currently looking for a credible and experienced partner to help us to pilot the new children’s home approach at which point we will working on an indicative implementation action plan in 2025-26.

 

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