The Select Committee report provides a thorough analysis of these issues with a number of recommendations which, if acted upon would result in a significantly improved system of support which Barnardo’s believe would transform outcomes for care leavers.
There are currently over 80,000 children in the care system in England. Every year around 13,000 young people leave care and many of these young people go on to have very poor outcomes.
1. 1 in 3 care leavers become homeless in the first 2 years after they leave care.
2. 38% of care leavers aged 19-21 are not in education, employment, or training.
3. Barnardo’s research has shown that nearly half of all care leavers have a mental health need.
4. 57% of care leavers say that managing their money was difficult when leaving care.
5. Following the cost-of-living crisis - 82% of care-experienced young people said they were struggling to afford food all or some of the time.
The Committee’s report contains the following recommendations, all of which Barnardo’s supports.
• The development of a National Care Offer. This would harmonise the postcode lottery in entitlements and ensure that care leavers receive a minimum level of support, wherever they live.
• A review of the financial and housing support available to care leavers to ensure that they are not left to struggle financially after turning 18. This should be published by the end of 2025 and include: increasing the levels of Universal Credit for care leavers aged under 25; increasing education bursaries; council tax exemptions; and introducing rent guarantor schemes.
• Exempting care leavers from proposed plans to reduce Universal Credit support for those aged under 22, and ensure that care leavers are prioritised for access to support through the Youth Guarantee.
• The commissioning of an independent evaluation of the impact of designating care experience a protected characteristic. This should focus on those areas where local authorities have adopted this and include an assessment of its impact on the extent and quality of support for care leavers in those areas
[I had] to move overnight in my second year of A levels to this student flat, I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t know the area, I didn’t know the people, then to be told to pay service charge! I wasn’t working at the time...that wasn’t my focus I wanted to just study… I wanted to go to university.
Louise
care experienced young person supported by Barnardo’s