Mission Statement

Blue Elephant Future Steps CIC is the charity set up by the directors of Blue Elephant Childcare Ltd to work specifically with care experienced children becoming adults and leaving the care system.

We have long recognised that leaving residential care can be like standing at the top of a cliff edge, the transition from 24hr support, sleeping in a house with an adult there if you need them (even if you have never needed them before) to living in a flat or bedsit with little or no support around you.

We want to be able to provide additional support to the statutory support provided by the local authority, the type of support which builds resilience.

Transition support

Giving those children preparing to move into adulthood, confidence that they will have someone there to support them emotionally, not just practically.
Providing additional and specific practical support where needed and not available elsewhere.
Also, giving them confidence that if they are told something in a benefits meeting or any other meetings, there will be someone there to sit and explain things for them, this could include attending the meetings with them until they have the confidence and capacity to attend themselves.
Early access to our supported employment opportunities, starting with Nellie’s Coffee Bar, but developing going forward.

Staying close

We will be adding stylish, comfortable and safe ‘living pods’ in the grounds of our children’s homes, for those preparing and then leaving residential care where that ‘care’ ends at the chronological age of 18yrs.
The living pods will be a soft landing into adulthood, close to their ‘homes’ and to those who have provided care often for years.

Providing the opportunity to grow into adulthood rather than just landing there unsupported.
We will also provide (in time) more accommodation further away (but still close) to where they lived before they left care.
Continued support for those children choosing at 18yrs to attend university full time.

Supported employment

Nellie’s Coffee Bar, Gammon Walk, Barnstaple is a great coffee bar first, and then a place of supported employment for care experienced adults and children (of an appropriate age).
We will work with other employers to help inform them of the benefits of working with care experienced adults including some of the challenges they may encounter in accessing employment.
We will work with care experienced people to write a competitive CV and show them how to build their CV through volunteering and employment opportunities.
We will perform interview practice with real employers, to help build confidence and experience before attending real interviews, including to work at Nellie’s Coffee Bar.

www.nelliescoffeebar.co.uk

Empowerment through engagement

When alone in the big adult world and trying to find their way, we will help guide them towards opportunities to interact with others, joining clubs and activities, initially with us to be there with you but withdrawing once you are comfortable.
‘We will sit in the corner of the room whilst you explore and if things get too much, just come and sit with us, take a breath and try again.’
We will organise social events for other care experienced or less confident younger adults, to try and find connections that could lead to friendships and wider support networks.

Emotional support

When facing the cliff edge of leaving residential care, one of the most important things needed is access to a ‘friendly face’.
Sometimes care experienced adults need someone to just sit with them, to be present in their company without even the need to speak, we will help with that.
Our staff and volunteers will be P.A.C.E. trained and trauma informed, giving them the skills to interact in a positive way, but without any attempt to ‘fix’ the problems, they are there to guide our younger adults towards services designed to help them, and to be additional side support if needed.
We will work towards a 24hr telephone line for care experienced adults who find themselves alone in their bed with only their own thoughts, and who may need a gentle voice of support to engage with them, and help them feel less alone.
We will provide emotional support when you attend meetings and will help you understand the reasons for the meetings and the outcomes of the meetings. This maybe sometime after the meeting when they have had time to try and make sense of everything themselves.

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