Aftercare services need dedicated funding

Long-awaited legislation meant to ensure young people leaving State care are supported into adulthood makes no provision for funding necessary services.

Charities are warning that the Aftercare Bill 2014 in its current form will only go halfway to helping vulnerable teenagers make a successful move out of care.

Jennifer Gargan, director of Epic (Empowering People in Care) said: “Aftercare services should be fully resourced and funding should be ring-fenced. That guarantee should have been put into the legislation but I think the Government are afraid to give that statutory guarantee for fear of what it will cost.”