Helping Care Leavers Survive the Cost of Living

Aim

Rees aims to provide the tools and support necessary so that every care leaver can survive and thrive through the financial crisis.

Meet Mike, a resilient student facing a unique set of challenges. Unlike many of his peers, Mike doesn’t have the luxury of a financial safety net from his family. With soaring living costs and limited resources, he’s forced to rely on the generosity of strangers for shelter, food banks for sustenance, and friends’ kitchens to cook his meals. Mikes predicament isn’t uncommon among care leavers, people who grew up without the stability of a loving family. His story is a poignant reminder of the hardships they face, but also of their determination to break free from the cycle of adversity.

Mikes Story:

Mikes dream is to complete his degree and embark on a fulfilling career. Despite the temptation to settle for a low-paying job just to make ends meet, he knows that without a permanent address, the road ahead is treacherous. His education is the key to a brighter future, but the financial and emotional hurdles he faces threaten to extinguish that light. This is where Rees Foundation steps in.

Rees Foundation:

Rees Foundation is on a mission to empower people like Mike. We focus on providing vital support to care leavers, those who have grown up in the care system without the safety net of a loving family. Our vision is that every care leaver has an equal opportunity to succeed in life, regardless of a challenging past. 

The Impact of the Cost of Living on Care Leavers:

Mikes story isn’t isolated, its emblematic of the struggles that care leavers across the country face. The impact of the cost-of -living crises on this vulnerable group is immense and multi-faceted:

• Diminished Support Networks: Care-experienced individuals often lack robust support networks, leaving them vulnerable when financial emergencies strike.
• Financial Independence Strain: Unlike their peers, care leavers are expected to achieve financial independence by the age of 18, a daunting challenge for anyone.
• Trauma Effects: Many care leavers have endured Adverse Childhood Experiences.
• Mental Health Burden: The cost-of-living crises compounds the already significant mental health challenges face by care leavers.

What Your Donation Supports:

• Housing Stability: Your donation can help provide stable supported housing options for care leavers, giving them a safe place to call home.
• Help in a Crisis - Rees helps with access to emergency support in a financial crises plus our CEP Budget Toolkit and Financial Management Sessions 
• Emotional Health and Peer Support: We aim to offer essential emotional health support to care leavers, helping them cope with the unique challenges they face.
• The development of 'Ask Jan' Membership with a range of essential benefits for care leavers
• Warm Spaces - A friendly welcome, signposting and a free hot drink at one of our Rees Cafe's nationwide. 
• Educational and Training Support: to help care leavers pursue their education and training, ensuring they have the resources to succeed academically and empowering them to gain the confidence and abilities to thrive.

Mikes story is just one among many, but with your support, it can be a story of triumph over adversity. Rees Foundation is dedicated to levelling the playing field for care leavers, and your donation can make a profound impact on their lives. Together, we can ensure that care leavers like Mike have the opportunities and support they need to achieve their dreams and break free from the constraints of their past.

Join us in this noble cause and be the change that transforms lives. 

Donate today and help us to empower care leavers to overcome barriers and pursue their dreams. 

*Name and images of client have been changed to protect  protect privacy and confidentiality 

This project successfully funded on 6th December 2023