Investing in Potential: the Importance of Supporting Children in Care

By Josh Barreto, Staff Trustee

Working for the Cambian Group since 2023 has made me hugely passionate about improving outcomes for children in care. Every day, I see the difference that the right support can make to a young person’s life.

Since being named the overall Children’s National Winner at the CareTech Awards and earning a place on the CareTech Foundation’s Board of Trustees, I have gained an even deeper understanding of the importance of partnerships with charities and the role they play in strengthening our communities.

It has been brilliant to see how collaboration can truly transform the care sector and, most importantly, the lives of children and young people.

The scale of the challenge

In 2022/23 there were approximately 107,000 looked-after children in the UK (NSPCC, 2024), each one being a young person with their own talents and ambitions. Children in care may have experienced disruption and uncertainty in their life, which can create barriers to opportunities that many of us take for granted.

This is why the CareTech Foundation’s grants and their partnerships with children’s charities are so important. They provide practical support which leads to confidence, opportunity and the belief that a young person’s circumstances should not define their future.

Turning Support into Opportunity

The CareTech Foundation’s Community Grants Programme is one example of how targeted investment can make a real difference. It enables CareTech Ltd staff to advocate for causes that improve lives and can help young people in care pursue interests that might otherwise be out of reach.

J’s story:

J is a young person in foster care with a passion for musical theatre. They are currently studying performing Arts at college and have shown exceptional dedication to developing their skills.

A Community Grant funded a five-day intensive Musical Theatre course, providing industry-standard training and valuable preparation for future applications to the prestigious Urdang Academy. This investment provides access to an opportunity that could help shape their future and give J the confidence to follow their dreams.

Nawab’s story:

When Nawab arrived at Cambian, he quickly showed determination in his studies and a clear passion for cricket, dreaming of becoming a professional player.

With care and support, Nawab continued to pursue his passion. After enrolling at cricket college, he was selected to tour South Africa- an incredible opportunity made possible through funding from the Foundation.

Since leaving our care, Nawab has continued to thrive and has recently secured a role as a cricket coach!

J and Nawab’s stories are not simply about funding an activity. It is about removing barriers and telling a young person that their ambitions matter. Their journeys are powerful reminders of what can happen when we invest in a young person’s confidence and skills.

The Power of Partnership

No organisation can tackle the challenges facing children and young people alone. Strong partnerships between charities allow us to move towards a goal of making a meaningful difference and improve care experienced young people’s lives.

The Foundation’s partnership with Youth Leads UK is a great example of this. Through funding from the Foundation, 72 care-experienced young people aged 12 to 25 across the North West have been supported to access skills development and social action opportunities.

The Youth Leads Cares programme provided leadership training, confidence-building, career development and employer-led mentoring. Young people also had opportunities to contribute to magazines and design and deliver social action projects around issues that matter to them.

This is meaningful partnership in action- giving young people not only support, but a voice and the opportunity to lead.

Changing Futures, Together

When we talk about children in care, it is easy to focus on the challenges they face, but young people should never be defined by their circumstances. They are musicians, athletes, students and future professionals. They have ambitions just like any other young person and we should not accept that their circumstances determine the limits of their future.

Care for children should mean more that keeping them safe. It should mean helping them build confidence, discover their strengths and believe in their dreams. Through the Foundation’s grants and partnerships with charities, we can create opportunities for them to thrive. We can help change the direction of their future.

See how you can make a meaningful difference, here: Funding • CareTech Foundation