The aim of the forum is to work together to share good practice and improve services and support for care experienced young people.
The National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum (NLCBF) has a large and active membership of 130 Local Authority leaving care teams. The Young Person’s Benchmarking Forum (YPBMF) is at the heart of the forum, with the voices of care experienced young people shaping the direction of the forum and integral to the forum’s events and work. Our activities are focussed around three areas:
1) Membership – We hold regular specialist peer learning and development events for Leaving Care managers and Practitioners and a number of role-specific online networks. The membership website offers access to regular policy and practice updates; peer enquiry forms and leaving care resources.
2) National Influence - Influencing Leaving Care policy and practice through close working relationships with government departments, HMPPS, Ofsted, and other leaving care organisations.
3) Young People’s Benchmarking Forum (YPBMF) – Care experienced young people within the YPBMF play a key role in all events, policy work and in shaping the direction and priorities of the forum.
The Forum is run by the charity Catch 22 and predominantly funded through membership fees from Local Authorities. The Forum has a steering group of 9 Local Authority representatives who work closely with the staff team at Catch22 to shape the development of the Forum.
