About us
Live Unlimited was set up in 2018 to provide support, encouragement and inspiration to Barnet’s 680 looked after children and care leavers. A looked after child is a young person taken into local authority care for multiple reasons, but mainly due to abuse, neglect, family breakdown or illness. When a child in care turns 18, they become what is known as a care leaver although the council resumes responsibility until they reach 25.
Our work focusses on reducing these young people’s social isolation, improving their mental health and wellbeing, teaching new skills, boosting confidence, and helping find sustainable and fulfilling employment.
We focus on delivering five schemes:
Outdoor Club – our weekly Forest School sessions for children aged 6-18 gets young people outside where they learn new skills, take risks, and make friends with other care experienced children. The value of connecting with nature helps them feel calmer, less anxious and the fact they don’t need to explain themselves to the other children helps them feel safe and secure. Many of the children have gone on to make new friends as a result of the scheme and it’s been fantastic to see their confidence grow.
Aspire Higher Plus - a six month bespoke careers programme for young people aged 16-25, providing 121 mentorship and support to help young people identify their key skills and strengths as well as securing work experience that will improve their chances of getting that dream job!
Imagination Unlimited – This is a fund that enables care experienced young people in Barnet aged 0-25 unlock their potential and improve their health and wellbeing by providing access to skill, hobbies, and pastimes. We do this by providing items of equipment, new opportunities and experiences which otherwise would be financially out of reach, such a paying for horse riding lessons, a bicycle to commute to college or a pair of safety boots so a young person can take up an apprenticeship, etc.
Driving Ahead – This game changing scheme provides 46 hours of free driving lessons with theory test fee, support and practical test fee included. We're proud to have supported many care leavers to gain this valuable life skill and boost employability chances as well as instilling a sense of self-worth.
Creative Lives - A series of one off creative projects including Reel Lives and Sound Lives for young people to push themselves out of their comfort zones and express themselves creatively.
Outward Bound - A series of funded experiences for young people to have fun, build their resilience and gain friendships.
Here are a few things your donation could purchase for the care experienced young people we work with at Live Unlimited, £25 buys a voucher for a care leaver to treat themselves to something nice at Christmas, £39 buys a driving lesson for a vulnerable care leaver, £38 buys a two-hour Forest Schools' activity session for a child in foster care at our Outdoor Club and £250 buys a bicycle for a care experienced young person to cycle to shool with their friends. These are just a small number of the things we could purchase with your generous donation.
