last updated 26 January 2024.
Care experience as a protected characteristic
On 5 June 2023 the H&F Cabinet agreed that ‘care experienced’ be recognised as a protected characteristic in Hammersmith & Fulham.
By agreeing to include care experience as a protective characteristic, we are committed that future services and policies made and adopted by the council will be assessed through equality impact assessments to determine the impact of changes on people with care experience, alongside those who formally share a protected characteristic.
This will put the voices, needs, priorities and rights of our young people at the heart of everything we do.
By adopting and embedding this principle, we are furthering our support and commitment to all people with care experience (whether living in H&F or elsewhere) and improving outcomes in the following areas:
- readiness for independent living
- accessing work readiness and employability skills
- building future careers and gaining experience
- and championing access to apprenticeships and support through recruitment processes.
Our HUB (Hope Unity and Belonging)
Our HUB opened at the end of June 2023.
The homely in-borough space provides access to a:
- life skills centre with a kitchen
- relaxed space for relationship building
- group workspace
- and music and creative arts room.
A programme of drop-in, one-to-one sessions are delivered at the hub. The Our HUB web page and social media are still being developed so watch this space!
In the meantime social workers are providing all our care experienced young people with details of its location, opening hours and the timetable of activities and sessions.
If you have not received this please contact your allocated social worker or our duty team so you can be introduced and welcomed to the hub.
Discounted TfL travel
A new opportunity for discounted travel is available for our care experienced young people.
The 18 to 25 Care Leaver Oyster photocard offers a 50 per cent reduction in adult travel fares on TfL buses and trams and will be valid until the day before the young person’s 26th birthday.
The offer is only open to our young people living in London and is available regardless of whether the young person is engaged in education, training or employment.
To access this, offer young people will need to complete a short online form on the TfL website for the 18 to 25 CL Bus & Tram discount scheme and pay a £20 fee for the discounted Oyster card.
The leaving care team will cover the cost of the £20 fee. Young people can receive support with the application process from their allocated social worker or duty social worker if needed.
Free prescriptions
All our care experienced young people (18 to 25 years old) are now eligible for free prescriptions. Existing exemptions are listed in health section.
However, we are highlighting that you do not need to be exempt under these routes. You are exempt because you are a care experienced young person.
Contact your allocated social worker or our duty team if you need a prescription now or you want to find out more.
Voter registration
We are committed to supporting you to exercise your right to vote because your voice matters.
We are working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to understand the barriers to voting for care experienced young people.
As part of your pathway planning and our programme of workshops and sessions, we will support you to:
- understand your democratic rights
- understand why voting is important
- register to vote
- make sure you have an accepted form of photo ID
- apply for a postal or proxy vote.