AM welcomes £1m St David's Day fund for children who have experienced care

Rebecca Evans, Assembly Member for Gower, has welcomed today's announcement of a million pounds of Welsh Government funding for local authorities across Wales to help young people who have experienced care.
 
Funding will be made available to eligible young people aged between 16 and 25 and who are either still in local authority care or are care leavers, to help them progress towards independence.

Rebecca Evans said: "We know that children who live in care and care leavers do not have the same outcomes as children who live at home with a parent or parents. We need to keep working together to ensure that children in care have the same chance to realise their full potential and realise their hopes and ambitions. 

"Welsh Government will be working with the Children's Commissioner, and young people with experience of care themselves, to ensure that the fund meets the needs of young people leaving care to help them have the best possible chance of a full, rewarding, and independent life."

In 2015/16 there were 5662 looked after children in Wales and 702 care leavers.