Health and wellbeing support for for young people leaving care

We will support and encourage you to be healthy and provide the help you need to achieve this.

How we can help

We can support you to:

• Register at health services when you move home, e.g. GP, dentist and optician
• Access a health summary before you turn 18
• Move into adult’s services from whichever children’s health services you might have been receiving
• Attend hospital or doctor’s appointments. We do not automatically pay transport costs but your personal advisor can go with you if you are nervous or unsure. We will also help you speak to the hospital about any travel issues
• Apply for all the financial support for health related costs that you are eligible for, including discounted prescriptions, travel costs and other expenses through the NHS ‘help with health costs’ schemes
• We can also help with some prescription costs. Speak to your personal advisor about this

Discounted leisure centres

We support young people to access the care leaver discount scheme from Places Leisure for cheap, discounted (and sometimes free!) access to leisure centres in Wandsworth.

Counselling sessions

We offer substance misuse and emotional wellbeing support through our Future First counsellors which all care experienced young people can access.

We also have specialist mental health and parenting personal advisors who can support you and your personal advisor to offer you the right support to manage your health and wellbeing.

Young parents

We provide help and support if you are a parent. We will take an interest in your children and support you to do the best for them. We will help you arrange childcare, if this is what you want. For young parents, there is a regular Future Tot’s group that you can attend with your baby or toddler. Please contact your personal advisor for more information.

Sexual health

We can give you information about and support you to access local sexual health services, available at local GP surgeries, pharmacies or sexual health clinics.

Hobbies and activities

Former relevant and relevant young people can claim a £20 per month contribution towards any sports, hobbies or wellbeing club/membership that they wish to access. This might include social groups or activities that are important to you.

Financial support

We will pay £120 for an annual prescription pass for any care experienced young person who has regular prescription charges and can pay one off prescription costs for any care leaver who has fees to pay.

We also offer to purchase a £60 annual ‘Ask Jan’ membership from the Rees Foundation, using three months of your £20 wellbeing grant money, if you wish.