Former Oxfordshire children in care write 'survival guide'

It is hoped the book will teach life skills to care leavers

People who lived in care homes as children have written a book to help others preparing to leave the care system.

A Care Leaver's Survival Guide will be offered to young people in Oxfordshire to help them navigate the challenges of adulthood.

Written by those in the county who experienced the process themselves, the book contains practical advice like writing a CV and paying bills.

It will be available across the UK.

Chantelle Chamberlin was in the care system when she was younger and now works as a director of Office of Care Leaver Advocacy.

She said, like many other children in care, she was moved between different foster homes when growing up.

"When I reached 18, I wanted to go to university but the fear of not knowing where I was going to live outside of term time was a barrier," she said.

"I don't think at the time I had the right awareness and support to access the information that is now available."

The book includes advice like preparing for a job interview, housing options and tips around mental wellbeing

"Young people who have been in care are already forced to grow up quicker than other children and sometimes they aren't given the right tools to do this successfully," Ms Chamberlin added.

The book will be published by Oxfordshire social enterprise, the Office of Care Leaver Advocacy (OCLA) and updated versions will be re-released each year.

Oxfordshire County Council said it hoped the book would be adopted by other local authorities.

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