The Corporate Parenting Board of Lancashire Council met on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, approving recommendations for the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030, the Calendar of Meetings 2026/27, and updates from the Participation and District Teams. The Board also approved recommendations from a Peer Review, and discussed the PayPoint system and Any Other Business.

Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030

The Board initiated discussions on the development of the revised Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2026-2030. This strategy aims to ensure alignment with statutory duties, local priorities, and the voices of care-experienced children and young people. The recommendations for this strategy were approved.

Calendar of Meetings 2026/27

The Board noted the calendar of meetings for the upcoming year, 2026/27. The recommendations for this calendar were approved.

Participation Team Update

Young people from Lancashire's Children in Care Council (LINX) and Care Leavers Forum (CLF) provided an update on their activities. This included a successful Youth Takeover event held in Avenham Park, Preston which aimed to raise awareness of the Board's role and facilitate conversations between young people and decision-makers. Planning is also underway for a podcast series to be released during Care Leavers Month, featuring care leavers and personal advisors discussing various aspects of their lives. New LINX sessions have been launched in Lancaster, and a new Care Leaver Forum has started in Burnley, with ongoing efforts to encourage wider involvement. The Board noted these updates and approved the recommendations.

District Team Update

Updates were provided on the current situation for care-experienced young people in specific districts. This included demographic context, service provision, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. For example, in Pendle, a district with a population of approximately 96,110, there were 116 children in care, with high placement stability. Support services such as Education, Employment and Training Personal Advisors and weekly Focus Hub sessions were highlighted as working well. Challenges identified included access to social housing, limited public transport, and the need for earlier mental health support. Upcoming initiatives for Care Leaver Month in Pendle were also detailed, including a Pendle Hill Walk and a Period Poverty Campaign. The Board approved the recommendations arising from these updates.

PayPoint Update

The Board received an update on the use of the PayPoint system, which is used to provide emergency cash payments to young people and families. Concerns were raised by young people regarding feelings of embarrassment and anxiety when using PayPoint in shops, shops refusing to issue cash, delays in receiving codes, and concerns about being judged by shop staff. The system's reliance on an informal network of shops was also identified as a challenge. Following discussion, it was resolved that officers would explore alternative payment systems, feedback would be shared with PayPoint, and a follow-up report would be presented at the next Board meeting. Louise Humphreys from the Department for Work and Pensions offered to share details of a payment system they use that enables funds to be transferred into bank accounts within two hours. The recommendations related to this update were approved.

Peer Review

The Board received the Action Plan in response to a Peer Review of Leaving Care. The recommendations from this review were approved.

Any Other Business

Louise Humphreys from the Department for Work and Pensions reported on internal reorganisations within the Jobcentre that had affected regional allocations. This had resulted in fewer alerts for ring-fenced civil service job notifications. However, several opportunities were shared, including approximately eight ring-fenced civil service roles available nationally with starting salaries around £32,000, with one role based in Peel Park, Blackpool. Eligibility for these roles requires care experience, and support is available from work coaches across Lancashire for applications. The update was noted, and the recommendations were approved.