This website will help you find out what support and services you are entitled to, and who will help you get them, if you are a Somerset Care Leaver. This is our Local Offer to you.
Latest News
50% Off Gym Memberships for Care Leavers
To encourage & promote health and fitness for care leavers, Puregym are presenting a generous 50% discount on gym memberships.
Update: Leaving Care Apprentices April 2023
We thought we would share the progress that our apprentices have made since they joined the service over the course of 2022.
Kelsey Nichol has recently left the service and has made an enormous impact with various projects. We wish her all the best for the future.
Matthew Dodd – Level 3 Junior Content Creator. Matt joined us in October 2022, and has played a big part in Care Leavers Week, the Art Exhibition and a Future Exhibition in Bridgwater.
Please look out for future opportunities to join the team in the coming months!
Leisure centres in Somerset West and Taunton are set to offer free membership to children in care and care experienced young people from this month.
Blackbrook Leisure Centre and Spa, Taunton Swimming Pool, Wellington Sports Centre and Wellsprings Leisure Centre run by award-winning operator Everyone Active in partnership with Somerset West and Taunton Council are taking part in the new initiative to reduce the barriers between children and young people participating in sport and physical activity.
The free membership will give them access to a range of facilities depending on their age, including gym, swim, soft play and group exercise.
According to latest figures from the Department for Education for children looked after (CLA) in England, the number of children in care is at an all-time high, at more than 80,000 children or 67 in every 10,000.
This year, Everyone Active has launched its national Community Health and Wellbeing Strategy, with the aim to meet the needs of individual communities through programmes that support people to be physically active, and to feel happy and healthy.
As part of the strategy, this membership will support children in care or care experienced young people with free access to leisure facilities that can help improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.
The complimentary membership for cared for children up to age 15, and care experienced young people aged 16-25, can be accessed and set up through a referral system from local Council Family support teams.
Mark Washington, Everyone Active’s contract manager, said: “We are immensely proud to launch this partnership in Somerset West and Taunton.
“We understand the vital role we play in supporting all areas of the community and feel this membership will make a real difference to many young people’s lives.
“We want to provide opportunities for young people and children who have been in or currently are in care, that activity is for all, and we want to offer them a safe space to enjoy our sports and activity offering.”
Cllr Derek Perry, Executive Member for Sports, Parks and Leisure at SWT, said: “We are delighted that our leisure operator is taking the initiative to support these children and young people by making it easier for them to access our leisure facilities.
“It’s increasingly important to recognise the challenges people face in our communities and identify where we can make a difference.
“As well as providing the opportunity to improve their physical health, we hope the free membership will also benefit their mental wellbeing, helping them to feel healthy through the fun of fitness.”
What is the ‘Local Offer’?
Including: Who is it for? | Why we do it | If you need help now | Corporate Parents | and more
Support for 16+
Including: Personal Advisers and Leaving Care Team Leaders | Pathway Plans | Contact with your Personal Adviser | Young parents | and more
Who else can help
Including: Personal Advisers (Leaving Care Teams) | Our Children and Young People’s Services | Housing advice | Citizens Advice | and more
Education, Training and Employment
Including: Leaving school | College | University | Pathways to Employment (P2E) | and more
Somewhere to live
Including: Staying put | Supported lodgings | Care Leavers’ houses | P2i – Pathways to independence | and more
Money
Including: Financial support | Help with benefits | Money tips and other help | and more
Take part
Including: Care Leaver Champions | Social groups | SiCC and SLCC | Leaving Care Facebook and Instagram | and more
Health and wellbeing
Including: 16 to 18s – Why do I need a health assessment? | Get a doctor | Get a dentist | Find an NHS service | and more
Keeping safe
Including: Emergency | Police | Samaritans | SIDAS | and more