Closing the Gap - Empower Care Leavers in London

Closing the Gap Fund – Update 

Over the past few months, our Closing the Gap Fund has helped 24 young people take positive steps towards work and financial independence. We provided 70 small, well-timed payments to cover essentials like travel, food, or work clothes. Each payment was carefully planned to make sure young people had what they needed without becoming dependent on the fund. 

Most young people received a few smaller payments spread out over time, which helped bridge the gap between starting a job and getting their first paycheck. This approach also kept them connected to our careers team during a crucial period of transition. 

Thanks to your support, these small amounts made a big difference to care-experienced young people, prevented bigger problems down the line, and helped young people build stable, independent futures. 

Here are some of their stories. Thank you for believing in them. 

(Please note that names and other identifying details have been changed.) 

Jade’s First Job 

After months of job searching, Jade was offered her first role at Waitrose while also studying for her GCSEs. It was a great opportunity, but the cost of travelling to work and buying lunch made it hard for her to accept the job with confidence. 

The onboarding process felt overwhelming, and without a first paycheck for several weeks, Jade worried about how she’d manage financially. Through the Closing the Gap Fund, her careers specialist worked closely with her to calculate exactly what she’d need for travel and lunch and explained the support process step by step. 

This support gave Jade the breathing space to focus on both her studies and her new job. She’s now completed three weeks in the role and, while the balance is challenging, she’s grateful that the immediate financial pressure was taken off. 

As her careers specialist said: 

“Even that little bit helps. She doesn’t have to worry because she doesn’t get paid until like a month later.” 

Daniel Learns on the Go 

Daniel had recently secured a job at Waitrose after a period of unemployment, but missed some key steps in the pre-employment process due to poor communication and organisation. When he realised he couldn’t afford work-related costs, he contacted his careers specialist at the last minute. 

Even though these conversations had taken place before, Daniel hadn’t fully taken them in at the time. His Career Specialist responded quickly, pulling together a simple document that outlined exactly what information was needed to apply for the Closing the Gap Fund. This helped speed up the process, and Daniel received the financial support in time to begin work. 

Since then, he’s kept up his part-time job and shown interest in opportunities in the creative industries. The experience didn’t just offer practical help; it also gave him a better understanding of how to plan ahead and communicate effectively. 

Leah’s Story: A New Start in the Food Industry 

At 19, Leah came to Drive Forward with a clear goal: to build a future in the music industry—but first, she needed financial stability. After dropping out of college, she’d been working in a warehouse just to make ends meet. She was determined to find a job she could stick with, one that would help her grow and support her long-term plans. 

That’s when she got involved in a youth employment programme run by The Salad Kitchen, one of our incredible employer partners. Designed for young people aged 18 to 25 who are care-experienced or at risk of homelessness, the programme offers training, workshops, and paid work experience as a gateway into the food industry. It was developed by resident chef Tom, who brings eight years of experience as a youth worker supporting young people with complex needs. 

Thanks to this partnership, Leah was offered a role starting on the 3rd of June. But before she could even get through the door, a big hurdle stood in her way: travel costs. 

Leah doesn’t currently receive Universal Credit because of a historic £3,000 debt to the DWP. And because her new role is zero-hours to begin with, she wasn’t eligible for any financial support. That meant no money to get to work, and no backup. 

Enter the Closing the Gap Fund. 

With targeted support from the fund, we were able to cover Leah’s travel costs during her first weeks of work—removing the stress and letting her focus on what really matters: showing up, building confidence, and making the most of this opportunity. 

It’s a small, simple intervention. But for Leah, it’s the difference between feeling stuck and stepping into something new. 

Have a look at another young person’s success story with The Salad Kitchen on our Instagram feed. 

Looking Forward 

The Closing the Gap Fund continues to deliver the right support at the right moment—bridging the gap between leaving benefits and starting work, or from one job to another. By staying focused on short-term, structured help, we’re making long-term change possible for the young people we support. 

And if you want to make an even bigger impact...

Join the movement

We believe in the potential of care-experienced young people. We’ve seen it every day for 15 years. What’s needed now is a system that recognises, supports, and champions that potential – from care to career.

If you’re ready to be part of that change, we’re ready to work with you.

#CareToCareer
Let’s make the future fairer.

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Links:

• Care To Career - The Movement