The John Lewis Partnership has announced plans for it to become the employer of choice for young people leaving the care system.
With over 108,000 children in care across the UK today, the retailer said they are three times less likely to be in education, employment or training by the time they reach 19 than their peers. It also highlights how young people who have been in care are a third more likely to be made homeless than to go to university.
The John Lewis Partnership said the move has been inspired by Timpsons and its employment of ex-offenders.
In the last 18 months, the retailer has been working with councils and charities in Manchester, Birmingham, London, Nottingham and Essex to provide training and employment in John Lewis and Waitrose stores to young people who have been in care.
While saying it is still early days, it has created a ‘Building Happier Futures’ employment programme, which will see it employing more care experienced people in more parts of the country. This could eventually extend to launching dedicated apprenticeships for care leavers and the offer financial support to pursue further or higher education.
