Executive Board For Care Leavers

Attachment Aware Communities

Care leavers who have experienced trauma before coming into care often face significant challenges when leaving school. This is sometimes called the ‘Care Cliff’. Care leavers are overrepresented in prisons, many face homelessness, and too many are not in education, employment, or training.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We invite you to join us in making a real difference.

All staff perform best in emotionally intelligent, happy, and safe environments. By understanding the needs of this vulnerable group in our local community, you can help improve working conditions for everyone. You may also see unexpected benefits such as reduced sickness and improved staff retention.

We warmly invite you to be part of this important journey towards inclusion.

For more information about recruiting and supporting care leavers, please contact Michael Guard: michael.guard@achievingforchildren.org.uk

What is an Attachment Aware Community?

An Attachment Aware Community:

Understands and shows empathy and support for vulnerable people, including care leavers.
Includes businesses and education providers where managers are attachment aware and trauma informed, creating safe, welcoming spaces where care leavers feel they belong.
Ensures care leavers receive support from the wider community to thrive and contribute positively.

What Does This Look Like?

In Higher and Further Education:

All staff receive training to support the emotional, behavioural, and academic needs of care leavers.
Learning environments celebrate diversity, foster belonging, and promote inclusion.
Pre-visits, open days, and ongoing support help care leavers become familiar with their learning settings and expectations.
Key adults are identified as reliable contacts for additional support.

In the Workplace:

Attachment aware employers offer care leavers extra opportunities during interviews and induction to demonstrate their skills and potential.
Clear explanations of job roles and expectations ensure care leavers feel valued and part of the team.
Communication is non-judgemental and supportive, addressing issues appropriately.
Care leavers are listened to and empowered to take control of their lives, building self-worth and confidence.
Holistic support helps care leavers understand their rights, including pensions, unions, childcare, and flexible working, aiding informed decisions.

Why Is an Attachment Aware Community Important?

Care leavers can be dedicated and outstanding employees once their specific needs are understood.

For them to flourish, care leavers need to feel safe, welcomed, and that they belong—basic needs many take for granted but which may have been missing in their experiences.

Belonging and Identity:
Identity is shaped by experiences, family history, culture, religion, and race. Being in care also influences a care leaver’s identity. Positive relationships help everyone understand who they are and feel they belong, but care leavers often find this harder.
Forming Positive Relationships:
Healthy relationships require experiencing positive relationships early on. Care leavers often face disruptions to key relationships, such as with birth families or carers. Transitioning to independence, employment, or study can be challenging, so a strong support network is essential.
Further Education or Employment:
Leaving care can be stressful, often coinciding with starting college or work. Attachment aware employers and educators understand these challenges and provide the necessary support.

Many care leavers are not in employment or training by age 19 compared to their peers. Factors like missed opportunities to develop employability skills, lack of job application support, and unstable housing can impact their ability to succeed.

Attachment Aware Communities in Action

The Education Executive Board, established just over a year ago, includes partners such as The Care Covenant, John Lewis, Chambers of Commerce, university and college leadership, the Department for Work and Pensions, Rotary, local businesses, and members of AfC. Together, they work to expand opportunities for young people in care and educate employers about attachment-aware practices.

We have heard of excellent work by John Lewis and The Care Covenant supporting care leavers within their organisations and locally. Both will play key roles in our upcoming Attachment Aware Communities Business Event, sharing case studies and strategies.

Our aim is for employers attending to sign the Attachment Aware Communities charter and explore AfC Virtual College’s attachment training for managers.

At AfC Virtual School, we recognise that for young people with a care background to truly thrive, it takes the commitment of every part of society to adopt an attachment aware approach.

This includes our local businesses. Young people with care experience bring loyalty and valuable skills to any employer, but it is important to understand how their past experiences may affect their present.

We invite local businesses and employers to join us by taking the Attachment Aware Pledge, committing to at least one of the following actions:

Become a signatory to the Care Leaver Covenant
Develop recruitment opportunities specifically for young people with a care background
Provide meaningful work experience placements for young people with a care background
Offer discounts or tailored services for young people with a care background
Deliver other forms of support that improve the lives and prospects of young people in care