Shared Lives Plus marks National Care Leavers’ Month as new data shows strong outcomes for young people leaving care

The month brings together the public, professionals, carers, decision-makers and the media to celebrate care leavers and raise awareness of the issues affecting young people in and leaving care.

As National Care Leavers’ Month begins, new data shows 233 young people have now been supported through the Shared Lives for Young People Leaving Care Programme.

At Shared Lives Plus, we’ll be marking the month by sharing stories and learning from the programme, launching new training for carers and professionals, and hearing directly from ambassadors Katie, Vicky and Gracie, who will share their views and experiences across our channels, including through a new Shared Lives Plus TikTok channel.

We’ll also encourage more social workers, commissioners and leaving-care teams to consider Shared Lives as an option and make sure young people know it could be available to them.

One of the key developments this month will be the launch of our new carer training package, Foster carer to Shared Lives carer transition, developed over more than a year with Shared Lives schemes, carers and ambassadors.

The training will help carers and professionals understand more about what young people leaving care may have experienced, take a trauma-informed approach and support smoother transitions into Shared Lives.

Mary Vaughan, Senior Project Lead for the programme, brought her own experience of moving from foster carer to Shared Lives carer to the training. Mary said:

“Having made the transition from foster carer to Shared Lives carer myself, I could put myself back into that role and think about the questions, concerns and practical things carers need to understand when supporting a young person through that change.”

Shared Lives ambassador Gracie also helped shape the training. Gracie said:

“Being involved in building this training programme means I can help carers understand the journey into adulthood with Shared Lives. I hope it helps people understand the difference the right support can make and what can happen when someone is given the chance to thrive.”

New programme data covering April to August 2026 shows a further 50 young people moved into Shared Lives arrangements, taking the total supported since the programme launched in 2024 to 233 across 41 Shared Lives schemes.

The latest figures show:

• 76% of young people with transition data stayed with a carer they already knew and trusted

• 82% were in education, employment or training

• more than 80% of those in education, employment or training were directly supported through their Shared Lives arrangement to enter or remain in it

• 60% of transitions were from foster care

• where a young person wanted to remain in their local area, 100% were supported to do so

• 70% had been supported to take part in community activities

• 88% had been directly supported to build and maintain relationships through their Shared Lives arrangement.

The programme supports care-experienced young people, including those with a learning disability, autistic young people, young people with mental health needs and those who have experienced complex trauma.

For some, Shared Lives offers continuity with a foster carer or another trusted person. Others are matched with a new Shared Lives carer as they move into adulthood.

Be sure to follow us across social media to keep up with the latest stories, learning and programme updates throughout National Care Leavers’ Month.

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Find out more about the Shared Lives for Young People Leaving Care Programme.