UK government announces £8.4m service to help care leavers reconnect with old contacts
6 reported
The UK government has announced a national service to help care leavers in England reconnect with relatives, trusted adults, and old friends, with an initial budget of £8.4 million. The initiative, described as a Who Do You Think You Are?-style service, aims to reduce isolation and support older teenagers in their transition to independent living. The announcement follows recognition that broken connections are a key reason for later vulnerability among young people in the care system. Figures released last month showed that 106 young care leavers died in England in the year to April, up from 91 in the previous 12 months, prompting a ministerial review. The new service builds on a decision earlier this year making local authorities responsible for supporting relationships between siblings in care and contact with parents. Campaigners including Chris and Jonny Hoyle, who fought to be reunited as teenagers in foster care, pushed for that change for years. The article notes that 40% of care leavers are not in education, employment or training by age 20, nearly three times the average rate.
What’s reported
The government announced a national service for care leavers in England to reconnect with relatives, trusted adults, and old friends.
The service has an initial budget of £8.4 million.
106 young care leavers died in England in the year to April, up from 91 in the previous 12 months.
Ministers have commissioned a review into those deaths.
A new entitlement to free prescriptions and dental care up to age 25 was introduced for care leavers.
40% of care leavers are not in education, employment or training by age 20, nearly three times the average rate.
Key figures
Benjamin Zephaniah (poet, quoted in the article)
Chris and Jonny Hoyle (campaigners who fought to be reunited as teenagers in foster care)
Alan Milburn (author of a recent report on young people and work)
Sources: The Guardian
