As National Care Leavers Week (28th October – 3rd November) begins, Shared Lives Plus is calling on more local authorities and care professionals to adopt the Shared Lives care model. Shared Lives is an ideal solution for many young people with social care needs transitioning from children’s care services.
This year’s theme, ‘All of Us, We Are One,’ underlines the importance of unity and community for care leavers. The week-long event celebrates the resilience of care-experienced young people while highlighting the significant challenges they face, particularly the need for ongoing, stable support.
With over 38,000 young people[1] leaving the care system in the UK each year, consistent and nurturing support has never been more critical. National statistics show that one in four[2] care leavers face homelessness within just two years.
Backed by two years of funding from the Rayne Foundation, Headley Trust and the Segelman Trust, Shared Lives Plus is working with local authorities, the NHS, and voluntary sector partners to expand its care leavers programme across 25 local areas in England, Scotland, and Wales. The programme is co-designed with young people, focusing on providing care-experienced young people with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health challenges a stable and supportive home environment.
The Shared Lives model has earned a 96% ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, surpassing the 83% average[3] for traditional social care models. In addition to its high-quality care, the model is also cost-effective, saving local authorities between £8,000 to £30,000 per person per year annually[4], allowing these savings to be reinvested in other community services.
Our care leavers programme has been shaped the experiences of those who have experienced adverse childhood conditions and survivors of trauma. The Shared Lives model facilitates structured transitions for care leavers, allowing young people to access support before turning 18. This helps to reduce the risks and challenges that can occur during this critical transition. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that care-experienced young people are treated with compassion and respect, receiving the emotional and practical support they need to heal and grow.
Victoria Odude, Communication and Engagement Officer for Shared Lives Plus and herself a care-experienced individual, is leading engagement efforts within the programme. “As someone who has been through the care system, I understand how difficult the transition to adulthood can be,” say Victoria. “Through Shared Lives, we are offering young people more than just a home—we’re offering them the chance to thrive in a supportive, community-driven environment.”
Victoria is running focus groups with Shared Lives carers, young people, and scheme workers, encouraging open dialogue on challenges, achievements, and best practices. She is visiting schemes to capture real-life stories from carers and the young people they support, which will be shared through video interviews and case studies on the Shared Lives Plus website and social media channels.
As part of National Carers Week, Victoria will be attending the ‘Collaborate for Change’ event at City Hall, hosted by Partnership for Young London. The event will bring together policymakers, care professionals, leading organisations, and care-experienced young people to explore ways to enhance support for those leaving the care system.
For more information about the Shared Lives care leavers programme, please visit https://sharedlivesplus.org.uk/our-work-and-campaigns/our-shared-lives-programmes/young-people/
