"I applied for the Civil Service Care Leaver Internship Scheme and was placed in

the Department for Culture, Media and Sports

(DCMS). I was part of a team that created policy for the nation’s youth and I learned so much from my internship.

"When I met Latifah, she was completing her degree whilst raising her daughter. Although her passion was and has always been theatre and performance, she was excited to hear about the Civil Service. Latifah told me how it was important for her as a care leaver to be represented in government and have access to these competitive opportunities that are difficult to get through mainstream recruitment.

"My passion for theatre has continued to grow and I haven’t left it behind!

Latifah is currently working at Lambeth Local Authority as a Care-Experience Officer in the Children and Young People Social Care sector. Within her role, Latifah uses her own experience of going through the care system to advise on corporate parenting and help improve the quality of service provided to looked-after children and care leavers in Lambeth.

The Civil Service Care Leaver Internship scheme does

not

require any prior qualifications or work experience. Care-experienced applicants are encouraged to use examples of experiences and skills acquired across all aspects of their lives; from demonstrating excellent communication and conflict resolution skills when standing up for their younger siblings in school, to effective prioritisation and project management skills gained throughout their experience of moving into independent living and furnishing a home on a limited budget.