Young people leaving state care often experience hardship in many areas of their life.
There is consistent evidence to indicate that as a population, young people who have been in the care of the state before entering adulthood, have poorer outcomes in early adulthood, compared with those who have not. ​
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Young people leaving care are some of the most vulnerable in society. This means effective preparation for this transition, and post-care support systems, are vital in ensuring these young people can flourish into happy, healthy, and independent adults.
The number of people entering out-of-home care is increasing year by year.
In 2023, 13,112 young people in England aged out of the care system on their 18th Birthday. This has increased by 4% since 2020.
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The number of care leavers aged 18-20 experiencing homelessness has increased by 54% over the past five years.
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Care leavers make up 25% of the adult homeless population.
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Almost 25% of the adult prison population have previously been in care and nearly 50% of under 21-year-olds in contact with the criminal justice system have spent time in care.
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Looked-after children are more at risk of interacting with the criminal justice system in early adulthood than their peers. Among looked-after children 52% were convicted of a criminal offence by the academic year they turned the age of 24, compared to 13% of children who had not experienced care.
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7% of care leavers aged 17 years; 3% of care leavers aged 18 years and 6% of care leavers aged 19-21 are in accommodation considered to be unsuitable.
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39% of care leavers aged 19-21 years are not in education, employment, or training, compared to 13% of all 19- to 21-year-olds.
The number of care leavers aged 19-21 who are not in education, employment, or training has increased by 1% since 2023.​
Those who have experienced the care system have almost always faced traumatic and impactful events on their life, so from childhood onwards, they have probably been more focused on survival than building the important life skills they will ultimately need when they come of age.
Exiting care can place an immense amount of pressure on a young person, as they attempt to cope with the combined environmental, and emotional responsibilities of practising to live independently.
Leaving care is most definitely a major life transition. It is a crucial process of shifting from dependency on state care to independence and self-reliance, which may be interpreted to young people as they no longer require support, support is not available to them anymore, or that they must simply " just get on with it".
As an adult, there are many different skills we need to function successfully, independently, and most important of all, happily:
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Managing your money and paying bills
Renting/buying a home
Looking after a home (cooking/cleaning/DIY)
Personal care
Looking after your wellbeing and assessing risks to self
Getting a job/Education planning
Building healthy relationships and boundaries
Coping with emotions and communicating
Parenting
Accessing the correct support
Solving problems and making decisions
Managing stress
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Life skills are usually introduced in multiple ways: at home, in school, through afterschool programs - and while we are by no means suggesting that every individual who has been through the care system hasn't acquired, or been taught any of these life skills - it is more likely care leavers will need additional support with them.
How can this workshop support a young person with life skills?
Over the course of 6-weeks we will explore the 12 life skills listed above - we aim to cover 2 skills (modules) per week.
The sessions will support and guide our young people through the different skills, and help them to create an individual action plan for the adult journey they are about to embark on.
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All attendees on the program will receive a workbook which contains a helpful chapter on each life skill, summarising the different topics delivered on the program, as well as additional information, signposting, and of course their own personal action plans.
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We also encourage the young people to stay connected with us as a branch of their support network for as long as they feel they need it.
