Rise Construction Framework (Rise) is a socially driven business investing profits into the VCFSE sector to fund community prevention and intervention initiatives to help tackle some of society’s most complex issues.
However, during 2020 Rise founded a new service for care leavers after conversations with support/social workers responsible for care experienced young people revealed that there was no dedicated safe space where young people could meet with the adults who cared for them to discuss their circumstances.
Recognising the complex circumstances and vulnerability of care experienced young people the team at Rise devised, funded and launched a new service called ‘Thrive’. Working with the Regenda Group the team at Rise refurbished unused Regenda office space in Liverpool City Centre transforming the space into ‘Thrive Coffee Shop’ – a safe space where young people can meet with the adults who care for them whilst accessing wrap around support to help remove barriers they face to gain meaningful employment.
The concept behind Thrive was co-designed by young people in the care system to ensure that the needs of young people accessing the service would be met and after initial funding from Rise the project has sustined by partnering with DWP securing contracts which covers staff costings to deliver support services leading to employment, the Regenda group provide an 80% discount in rent, the Steve Morgan Foundation fund a coffee shop assistant and Rise Construction Framework funds all other running costs.
When Thrive commenced young people were initially accessing employability services; however, it became clear the challenges faced by care leavers were complex. To help address the complexities faced by care leavers the team reached out to organisations across Liverpool City Region who could offer vital additional wrap around services; this collaboration has resulted in young people attending Thrive being able to access a range of support including mental health support, one to one advice on housing, finances, legal matters, work experience, mentoring, and bespoke pathways to work to ensure the young people can live live happy, safe and fulfilling lives.
In addition to the wrap around services Thrive has become a partner of the Trussell Trust enabling the team to issue food vouchers for those experiencing food poverty, Thrive is also taking part in a pilot programme to tackle digital poverty by issuing mobile phone data to those experiencing digital poverty.
Regular focus groups help the team at Thrive to fully understand the challenges faced by not only young people but also the support and social workers who are tasked with caring for them. Feeling voiceless, unheard and having no say in what happens to a young person in the care system was a reoccurring theme. Taking this on board Thrive is now a founding member of Liverpool Citizens, a group of civic organisations who will train care leavers as community leaders to work with decision makers to help shape the experiences of a young person in care.
I also have the following statistics which were correct at March 2024:
Thrive has achieved the following outcomes during the period March 2023 – March 2024:
- Welcomed 4240 visitors
- Facilitated 189 employability and support sessions
- Supported 85 young people into employment
- Welcomed 391 young people on 3180 occasion providing support, advice, food and drinks
- Provided intensive caseload support for 55 young people
- Launched outreach service for care leavers at HMP Liverpool
- Launched outreach services in supported accommodation
- Issued Trussell Trust food vouchers
- Issued Gif Gaf data bundles
- Issued emergency white goods items, clothing for work, travel to work expenses and food parcels
- Delivered 180 1:2:1 counselling sessions for young people seeking improved mental health & wellbeing
Also, we wanted the submission to be under ‘Thrive’ as we really wanted to submit on behalf of the Thrive team who are amazing and work wonders with young people across the Region – they dedicate every single day to helping our most vulnerable young people and have changed so many young peoples futures for the better.
I have attached a 3 year evaluation report about our project which was founded and funded by Rise Construction Framework and we have testimonials from young people using the service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfxLBe2wsgY
Best Wishes
Sara Lawton l Rise Construction Framework l Tel: 07711 860 951
Website: https://rise-framework.com
