An apprenticeship place will be made available to all young people leaving care, according to a new Government White Paper.

The New Opportunities White Paper offers support for more children and families and promises children leaving care will be part of an employment support programme.

The plan has been designed to stop the 6,000 young people, who leave foster or residential care each year, falling into unemployment,

Companies such as Norwich Union, Reed, BAA and Serco will offer opportunities such as work experience or mentoring to care leavers. And from September this year all of them will be entitled to an apprenticeship.

The Government reports that by 2015 more young people than ever will be participating in education and training.