How we're working to improve the experience of leaving care

Every young person deserves the chance to move into adulthood feeling ready, supported and in control of their future. But for many young people leaving care, the transition can come with challenges that their peers never have to face. 

That's why, over the last year, Break has been bringing together young people, local authorities, housing providers, disability organisations and other partners across Norfolk and Cambridgeshire through two ambitious projects: Routes to Roofs and Own Your Path. 

Supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, both projects aim to improve the experience of leaving care. Routes to Roofs is focused on housing and finding ways to give young people more choice, stability and security when moving into independent living. Own Your Path is focused on improving pathways for young people with disabilities as they transition into adulthood. 

Young people leading the conversation 

A key part of both projects has been ensuring that young people with lived experience are at the centre of every discussion. Over the past year, a group of young people from Break have come together to share their experiences, explore the systems involved in leaving care and help shape the direction of the work. 

They have named the projects, helped invite partners to join the work, developed ideas for change and become active members of project working groups alongside professionals and decision-makers. As the projects developed, the young people's steering group split into two dedicated groups, allowing members to focus on the area that matters most to them, whether that's housing or disability pathways. 

One young person reflected on a visit to learn about innovative housing approaches: 

"It's too late to impact me, but it is great that we are going to do this and change this for others." 

Working together to improve housing options 

For many young people leaving care, finding somewhere to live is only part of the challenge. Having a home where they feel safe and settled, can stay connected to their support network and build their future is just as important. 

Through Routes to Roofs, Break has brought together a wide range of partners from across housing, local government and the voluntary sector to explore practical ways of improving housing options for young people leaving care. Recent discussions have highlighted some of the issues young people continue to face, including long waiting times for housing, limited choice about where they can live and difficulties staying close to the people and communities that matter to them. 

At the same time, we have been exploring potential solutions, including: 

• Creating more affordable housing opportunities 

• Increasing access to private rented accommodation with the right support in place 

• Exploring opportunities for investment in homes for young people leaving care 

• Looking at ways existing accommodation could provide longer-term stability 

• Identifying opportunities to improve local housing policies and processes. 

Improving pathways for young people with disabilities 

Alongside this, Own Your Path is bringing together organisations from children's services, adult social care and disability support to improve transitions for young people with disabilities leaving care. 

Through discussions with partners and young people, a number of common challenges have emerged. These include services working separately from one another, limited information sharing and difficulties navigating adult support systems. 

The project is now exploring a range of possibilities, including: 

• Stronger partnerships between children's and adult service providerss 

• Better planning before young people leave care 

• Greater awareness of the different pathways and support options available 

• New services that provide gradual and supported transitions into adulthood 

• Improved communication between organisations involved in planning a young person's future. 

The aim is to ensure that young people with disabilities have more choice, greater independence and support that reflects their individual needs and ambitions. 

Looking ahead 

The next phase of both projects will focus on turning ideas into practical solutions. Working groups will continue to assess the different approaches that have been identified, considering which are realistic, achievable and most likely to make a positive difference for young people. 

We'll continue sharing updates as the projects develop and as we begin testing the approaches that could help improve the experience of leaving care for young people.