Aisha, one of our YPBMF Legends and care-experienced sessional workers, participated in a Care X Network panel at the BBC during National Care Leavers’ Month. Read on to get their take on the day.
Introduction
The recent Care X Network panel at the BBC brought together four voices with shared passion and lived experience: three young care-experienced apprentices and me, a care-experienced sessional worker from the Forum. The conversation created a space where honesty, resilience, and ambition took centre stage. Our aim was simple: to highlight the realities of care-experienced young people navigating apprenticeships and to showcase the strength we bring to every opportunity. By sharing our stories in such an influential setting, we hoped to inspire change, challenge assumptions, and open doors for the next generation of care- experienced apprentices.
Meet some of the panellists
Aisha
Aisha began her journey through a Business Administration apprenticeship, an experience that has shaped her career and her commitment to improving support for care-experienced young people. Now a sessional worker with the NLCBF, she brings more than a decade of insight, advocacy, and lived-experience to the panel. For Aisha, taking part was an opportunity to share her story and reflect on how far apprenticeship support has come since she began 11 years ago. She spoke about the importance of recognising the progress that has been made, while also being honest about the gaps that still urgently need addressing. By highlighting her own experiences, she hopes to influence change and ensure that future apprentices have access to the guidance, information, and support she once struggled to find.
Aisha is passionate about making sure young people’s voices are heard and taken seriously. She believed real change starts with acknowledging the system’s shortcomings and holding organisations accountable for closing those gaps.
Gracie
Gracie is currently completing a Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 Apprenticeship in a client engagement admin role, a pathway that has been shaped truly supports her journey. After facing an education gap that made returning to college challenging, Gracie was offered tailored functional skills support, giving her the stepping-stone she needed to start building her qualifications again. As a care-experienced young person, Gracie’s apprenticeship was thoughtfully designed to meet the needs and provide a supportive environment where she could grow. With the encouragement of her employer and the training, she has been able to develop new skills, gain confidence in the workplace, and see a clear route forward, potentially progressing into a Level 3 apprenticeship in the future.
Gracie brings resilience, determination, and a meaningful lived experience to her role, making her a valuable voice on the panel and a brilliant example of how the right support can help young people thrive.
How did it feel to be a part of the panel?
“It felt empowering to be part of the panel and to know that my lived experience could help shape better support for young people.”
“It was inspiring to sit alongside others with similar experiences and see how far we’ve all come, both individually and collectively.”
“I felt a strong sense of connection with the panel, the audience, and the shared goal of improving opportunities for care-experienced young people.”
“It felt honest and grounding to speak openly about challenges and the progress, and to know that people were really listening.”
“This was my first-ever panel, I have never experienced a public event before, I didn’t know what to expect, or even where to look! I had prepared my notes, and as soon as the panel started, I felt settled and more relaxed with an interactive audience. Being a part of a group really made me feel more comfortable. It made me feel important, it was my first public experience, and I felt listened to and felt like I was making a change. This made me feel so much more important and I felt like I was doing something that could work towards implementing the change that needs to happen.”
Highlights or Standout Moments
“A standout moment was when I shared how care-experienced people often work incredibly hard. I talked about my journey of successfully completing the Care Leavers Internship Scheme, becoming a permanent Civil Servant, and how I slowly realised just how often people would comment on my work ethic. At one point, my colleagues were jokingly telling me to slow down because I was making everyone else feel like they needed to speed up just to keep up with me, It was a funny moment, but also a reminder of the drive and passion care-experienced young people bring when they feel valued and supported.”
“One of the standout moments for me was when an audience member quoted something I’d said during the panel and asked if they could use it, a gesture that made me feel genuinely heard and valued. The same person that I was approached by was an apprentice journalist; they invited me to take part in an interview for their project, which meant a lot, especially as this BBC event was my first major public appearance. Being listened to so attentively and then asked to contribute further really reinforced the importance of creating spaces where care-experienced apprentices feel seen. The conversations throughout the day highlighted just how vital tailored support, family styles workplace dynamics, and meaningful incentives from smaller employers are in helping care-experienced young people thrive.”
Feedback from the Audience
“Hearing from young people themselves – and the setting really helped with the idea that this was about potential and the art of possible – felt aspirational”
“The care-experienced apprentice panel, they provided great insight into what could make apprenticeships work better for care-experienced people”
One audience member said, “Personal Assistants / social care – I’d like to see more LA/ devolved authorities. Mayoral authorities involved – they have a duty to support care experienced young people. I know they have resource issues… but good support for the young people will help sustain the apprenticeships which has impact on the future housing needs / adult social care / public health so a good investment.”
“The total amount (£7000) available to support Care Leavers in apprenticeships. I knew Care Experienced Young People could get up to £3,000, but I didn’t know that employers cannot get up to £3,000.”
Overall, the feedback made it clear that hearing directly from care-experienced young people left a lasting impression. In the end, the audience walked away feeling informed, inspired, and more aware of what needs to change. The reflections shared showed just how powerful lived experience can be in shaping better opportunities and support.
Closing Reflections
As the panel came to an end, what stayed with us most was the sense of unity and empowerment that filled the room. Each panellist offered something unique, but together we shared a collective message: Care-experienced young people deserve to be seen, understood, and supported, not just as exceptions, but as valued contributors in every workplace. The conversations sparked during the session showed the impact that lived experience can have when organisations make space for it. The BBC panel was more than an event; it was a reminder of what becomes possible when young people are trusted with their own narratives.
Call to Action: Encouraging Employers to Step Forward
We encourage employers to recognise the untapped potential of care-experienced young people and to take meaningful steps toward creating inclusive apprenticeship pathways. This begins with understanding the additional barriers that we may face, from housing instability to limited networks, and responding with flexibility, empathy, and tailored support. Employers who invest in care-experienced apprentices not only change individual lives but also strengthen their organisations with fresh perspectives, resilience, and determination. By offering structured support, clear communication, and a culture of belonging, employers can play a pivotal role in shaping a fairer, more inclusive workforce for the future.
Take a look at the information and resources on the NLCBF website:
Other useful links around supporting care experienced individuals with apprenticeships:
- Apprenticeships bursary for care leavers
- Moving On Up Network’s Care Leavers’ Bursary Flowchart
- Care Leaver’s Covenant regularly update their Apprenticeship opportunities for care experienced individuals.
- Children’s Commissioner blog – Chelsea: ‘How my experiences helped me with my apprenticeship’
- Drive Forward Foundation – Hear from care experienced apprentices about their Apprenticeship Experience
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Moving On Up Apprenticeship Buddy, a brand-new AI tool designed to help care-experienced young people, their supporters and employers by providing clear, accurate answers to their questions based on best practice and official government guidance. You will find practical information about funding, eligibility, application steps, interview tips and more
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Employers guide: Top Tips for recruiting and supporting care experienced apprentices A special thank you to all the Care X members who joined Moving On Up’s Summer workshops to feed into this resource