Money Ready young adult session participants. Photographer Stephen Bond,

Join our event: Transforming outcomes for care-leavers in Essex

Money Ready young adult session participants. Photographer Stephen Bond,

Money Ready invites you to take part in a showcase and networking event aiming to lessen the challenges faced by care-leavers and care-experienced young people, in Essex and beyond.

Reserve your place.

Hosted by financial education charity Money Ready, Saffron Building Society and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) on Friday 17th April, this event seeks to find practical steps towards addressing the findings in our recently published research on financial resilience for care-experienced young people, which must be improved across the UK.

Event details

Showcase & networking event with refreshments: Transforming outcomes for Essex care-leavers

  • Date: Friday 17th April 2026
  • Time: 11am-12.30pm
  • Location:  Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Chelmsford, CM1 1SQ

Why we need to work towards positive change

Our recent research found that 40% of care-experienced young people in Essex are not in education, employment or training. This is far higher than the national average. Read the full report.

Furthermore, only 1 in 5 care-experienced young people in Essex live independently. This is far below the national average. Many face the challenge of managing rent, bills, and other costs without family support or financial education.

What to expect from this Money Ready event

You’ll hear from sector leaders, including Leon Ward from Money Ready, Colin Field from Saffron Building Society and Shope Fashade, Outreach Officer for Care-leaver and Care-experienced Students at ARU, as well as a care leaver sharing their lived experience.

There will also be time to network with other attendees, with refreshments provided.

How to register: Please complete this Eventbrite registration to confirm your place.

Teenage girl leaning on a table writing with a pen and paper

What happens when the state is your parent?

Read more about our work with Saffron Building Society and how we're calling for action to ensure care leavers in Essex – and across the country – have the financial knowledge, support, and confidence to thrive.