Shared Lives for Young People Leaving Care programme update – June 2026

Our Care Leaver ambassadors continue to raise awareness of Shared Lives and the difference it can make. Recently, they led a webinar for Shared Lives carers and schemes on transitions from foster care to Shared Lives, presented to the Care Inspectorate in Scotland and delivered an information and advice session for the Department for Work and Pensions.

Our ambassador Gracie was also featured on BBC Radio Sheffield earlier this month, where she spoke about winning Frontline’s Young People’s Award and shared her experiences of Shared Lives.

You can listen on BBC Sounds (from 1:37:24).

We are also delighted to share that our ambassador Vicky won the Making a Difference Award at the National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards 2026 in recognition of her outstanding ambassador work.

Read more: Shared Lives ambassador Vicky wins national Learning Disabilities & Autism Award.

Rachel Leslie, Strategic Advisor for Young People Leaving Care and Transitions, has recently written for Community Care about how Shared Lives can help tackle the “leaving care cliff edge” that many young people face when support reduces as they move into adulthood.

Read the article: How Shared Lives can support care leavers – Community Care

Looking ahead, on 30th June our Care Leaver ambassadors will meet with Yvette Stanley, National Director of Ofsted (the Office for Standards, Children’s Services and Skills in England), to champion Shared Lives as a positive model of care and support for young people leaving care and to share their experiences directly with national decision-makers.

If you would like to find out more about the programme, please contact Mary Stokes, Project Officer, at mary.stokes@sharedlivesplus.org.uk.

You can also stay up to date via the programme page on our website: Shared Lives for care leavers, transitions and young adults.