My name is Archie Daniels I'm 20 years old and I'm a care leaver i was in care from the age of 6 to 18 years old most of that time I was in a residential children's home. From 18 until recently I was under a supported lodgings provider provided by Wrexham borough's local authority. I now want to leave Wrexham and move to Liverpool for a fresh start and go to university next year however this has become complicated for one reason I am a care leaver. I have found the privately rented place I want and can afford it however 99% of places require guarantors unlike people who aren't in care who can ask family members to be their guarantors a large proportion of care leavers don't have the family networks required to have guarantors this is a major problem!!! 

After speaking with 2 personal advisors 1 stated why don't you just take a council accommodation or shared house in Wrexham my response was Wrexham is part of the problem and I want to move out of the county this made me disgusted by the fact they didn't care about what I wanted for my future. Then the other one didn't even understand I needed a guarantor which was surprising when they are meant to know information like that. This causes massive issues as this prevents care leavers from the freedom to choose where they want to live and start their adult life i believe that this also has a connection with the high rates of care leavers being homeless. 

You will find that a lot of care leavers can afford many middle-priced private accommodations around the £500 - £750 a month mark however without the guarantor this money is pointless. What this does is remove the opportunity to move somewhere else as a care leaver just because they were in care this is wrong and needs changing urgently. With such few options without private rent, many care leavers have to use council housing which can have long waiting lists leading to some sofa sleeping or sleeping on the streets, and normally when they do get a place they won't have the choice of where they are housed this is unacceptable and unreasonable when they can afford the place they want like me and only need the local authority's name as a guarantor.     

 

This could also be a reason a very low percentage of care leavers go to university because of the lack of choice where they can live which affects their ability to be able to study in another city or town.

 

Unlike England where there is a guarantor scheme for care leavers, there isn't in Wales which needs to change.  

 

So what I am asking is that the Welsh government create a policy that states the local authorities have an obligation to guarantor for any care leavers who are unable to find a guarantor from family networks. This will create massive opportunity's for all care leavers and will give them control over what they do with their lives. 

 

The care leaving team always uses the word, corporate parents well now is your time to prove that you care about the young people you work with and give them a fair chance like any non-care leaver would have.

 

So here are the positive changes the local authority being guarantors would create for all care leavers in Wales.

• Care leavers could choose where they want to live.
• Care leavers would have the freedom to choose which universities they like without the barriers of not being able to live there.
• Care leavers would be able to have a fresh start in life if where they are is full of bad memories.
• Care leavers would be able to experience new cultures 
• There would be more options provided which would prevent unnecessary homelessness 
• Care leavers would get a chance at life!

 

If you believe in my cause please sign this petition and help care leavers like me get a brighter future.