Care leavers hub opens its doors in Liverpool

A new:- "care leavers hub" for care experienced young people has opened its doors in Liverpool this week. The new hub, funded and managed by Liverpool City Council, aims to offer support to young people with experience of care and help them with the transition to adulthood. A range of services and support is now available under 1 roof.

Based initially at the MPAC (Merseyside Play Action Council) building on Bridport Street, care leavers will be able to access personal support at the site, as well as facilities such as a shared kitchen, space for arts and crafts, a canteen, and a DJ/music suite.

The Council will also have a timetable of scheduled events and activities designed to prepare care experienced young people for adulthood.

Leaving the care system is a big change for many care leavers and the experience can be daunting. The hub will provide somewhere for care leavers to seek support and advice when they need it and aims to make the transition easier.

A permanent location for the hub will be identified in due course.

Cllr Liz Parsons, Cabinet Member for Children's Social Services, at Liverpool City Council, said:- "The site in the current MPAC building in Liverpool will be the hub's temporary home whilst we work on a more permanent and purposeful venue. The hub will become an essential asset for supporting care leavers on the next stage of their journey and it was important we didn't wait too long; a temporary venue will allow us to deliver the service whilst working alongside our young people to co-design a permanent site. We want young people leaving our care to know that they will always have somewhere to go and someone to turn to whenever they need it. As the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority already provide free travel passes to our all our care leavers, the temporary hub, and the permanent hub when that is delivered, will be easily accessible to all."

Hugh Baird College Partners with E.ON and Peel Ports to Power Progress in Green Careers

HUGH Baird College is working in partnership with E.ON and Peel Ports Group to inspire their students and prepare them for careers in the growing green economy. The collaboration has given learners unique opportunities over the past year to engage with industry experts, gain practical experience and see how large-scale renewable energy projects are shaping the future of the Liverpool City Region.

This builds on what has already been a remarkable year for the College. Hugh Baird College was awarded an Ofsted Outstanding rating earlier in 2025, a recognition held by only 3 Colleges within the North West, which places it among the top 10% nationally. The College was also ranked the No.1 further education College in the country for Tech Level 3 Progress, achieved a 99% A-level pass rate and delivered 100% pass rates across many vocational areas.

The partnership with E.ON and Peel Ports has already had a direct impact on learners. More than 150 students aged:- 16 to 18 attended an E.ON led careers event at the College, where they learned about sustainable technologies including:- solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicle charging. They also gained hands on experience with smart meters and EV chargers. Survey feedback showed significant increases in student knowledge and interest in green careers, with awareness of renewable energy rising from:- 60% to 75% and interest in pursuing a green job in the future growing from:- 66% to 77%.

In March, nearly 100 students took part in Sefton's 1st ever Green Skills Day, held during National Careers Week. Delivered in collaboration with E.ON volunteers, the event introduced technical skills while also building important transferable skills such as communication and problem-solving.

Emma Griffiths, Curriculum Manager, at Hugh Baird College, expressed her gratitude for the support provided by E.ON:- "Your passion, enthusiasm, time and effort into planning such informative and interactive sessions was extremely beneficial in raising awareness and inspiring our learners, whilst enhancing their skills, knowledge and behaviours for industry."

Students and staff also visited the Port of Liverpool to see the UK's largest roof mounted solar installation, delivered by E.ON and Peel Ports Group. The project includes:- 63,000 solar panels which save:- 6,500 tonnes of CO2e each year; the equivalent of removing more than:- 2,250 cars from the road. The visit gave learners a rare insight into the design, supply chain and career opportunities involved in large scale renewable projects.

The collaboration has also influenced the College's teaching. E.ON's Net Zero Academy team recently took part in staff development activities, sharing the latest insights on the skills and qualifications employers are seeking. This knowledge is being embedded into curriculum planning to ensure students are prepared for high demand roles in the sector.

Lewis McIntyre, Managing Director of Port Services at Peel Ports Group, said:- "It's fantastic to open up the Port of Liverpool to students and show them first-hand the scale of our renewable energy projects. Working with E.ON, we're not only cutting carbon with initiatives like the UK's largest rooftop solar installation but also helping to inspire future careers in the green economy."

Amy Holbrook, Social Value Manager at E.ON, added:- "What's so great about our work with the students from Hugh Baird College is the sheer enthusiasm and thirst for learning about what a green career in an organisation like E.ON could look like. Not only can students witness first-hand the scale of what's possible through the Peel Ports project, but through our interactive workshops, the students can get really stuck into understanding just how varied, fascinating and rewarding a green career can be."

What are your thoughts on this news topic? Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter. Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....