DESCRIPTION
Practical ways to support care leavers with housing, education, work and wellbeing, including local-authority support in England and organisations that may offer additional help.
When
February 2024
Who
Paula Martinez
Preparing for the next stage
Leaving care involves changes in housing, money, relationships, education and work. Preparation should begin early and reflect what the young person wants, what they feel ready for and which trusted people will remain involved. Practical skills and a reliable support network both matter.
Start with the right support:
In England, start with the responsible local authority's leaving care service and published local offer. Eligible care leavers can request personal adviser support until their 25th birthday; entitlements depend on their circumstances and care history. A pathway plan should guide the support available where the young person is entitled to one. Ask the leaving care team to explain housing, financial and other support clearly. Arrangements differ across the UK.
Educational and Vocational Support:
Explore education, training and work options around the young person's interests. Help with applications, travel, equipment and realistic budgeting can make opportunities easier to take up. Check available financial support with the leaving care team, college, university or training provider, and record who will help with each next step.
Mental Health and Well-being:
Keep trusted relationships and emotional support in the plan alongside practical tasks. Talk with the young person about staying connected, accessing local wellbeing services and knowing whom to contact when things become difficult. Where support is already in place, plan how it will continue through the move.
Organisations that may offer additional help:
Charities and community organisations can add advice, connection and practical help alongside statutory support. Availability depends on the service, location and eligibility rules. Check the current details directly with each organisation before making a referral or assuming that funding is available.
Become offers a free Care Advice Service for young people in care and care leavers. The team can explain rights, discuss concerns about housing, money or education, and help people find appropriate support.
Buttle UK offers grants for children and young people who meet its criteria. Care-leaver status alone does not establish eligibility. Applications must come through a frontline professional working with the young person; families and young people cannot apply directly. Check the current grant criteria and eligibility tool before applying.
Catch22 runs leaving-care and employment services, with provision varying by area and programme. Its services can support young people with steps towards independence, including work and housing-related support. Check the relevant local service and referral requirements.
The Care Leavers' Association is a national charity led by care leavers. Its work includes support around access to care records, projects for younger care leavers and advocacy for improvements to the care system.
Rees Foundation supports care-experienced people through advice, signposting, connection and practical projects. Some financial assistance has separate eligibility and availability rules. Check the current service pages before relying on a particular grant or programme.
Conclusion:
A useful transition plan makes the next steps clear: where the young person will live, what support is available, who is responsible and how to get help if plans change. Review it with the young person and the people supporting them. Independence can grow gradually while trusted support continues.
Leaving care involves changes in housing, money, relationships, education and work. Preparation should begin early and reflect what the young person wants, what they feel ready for and which trusted people will remain involved. Practical skills and a reliable support network both matter.
Start with the right support:
In England, start with the responsible local authority's leaving care service and published local offer. Eligible care leavers can request personal adviser support until their 25th birthday; entitlements depend on their circumstances and care history. A pathway plan should guide the support available where the young person is entitled to one. Ask the leaving care team to explain housing, financial and other support clearly. Arrangements differ across the UK.
Educational and Vocational Support:
Explore education, training and work options around the young person's interests. Help with applications, travel, equipment and realistic budgeting can make opportunities easier to take up. Check available financial support with the leaving care team, college, university or training provider, and record who will help with each next step.
Mental Health and Well-being:
Keep trusted relationships and emotional support in the plan alongside practical tasks. Talk with the young person about staying connected, accessing local wellbeing services and knowing whom to contact when things become difficult. Where support is already in place, plan how it will continue through the move.
Organisations that may offer additional help:
Charities and community organisations can add advice, connection and practical help alongside statutory support. Availability depends on the service, location and eligibility rules. Check the current details directly with each organisation before making a referral or assuming that funding is available.
Become offers a free Care Advice Service for young people in care and care leavers. The team can explain rights, discuss concerns about housing, money or education, and help people find appropriate support.
Buttle UK offers grants for children and young people who meet its criteria. Care-leaver status alone does not establish eligibility. Applications must come through a frontline professional working with the young person; families and young people cannot apply directly. Check the current grant criteria and eligibility tool before applying.
Catch22 runs leaving-care and employment services, with provision varying by area and programme. Its services can support young people with steps towards independence, including work and housing-related support. Check the relevant local service and referral requirements.
The Care Leavers' Association is a national charity led by care leavers. Its work includes support around access to care records, projects for younger care leavers and advocacy for improvements to the care system.
Rees Foundation supports care-experienced people through advice, signposting, connection and practical projects. Some financial assistance has separate eligibility and availability rules. Check the current service pages before relying on a particular grant or programme.
Conclusion:
A useful transition plan makes the next steps clear: where the young person will live, what support is available, who is responsible and how to get help if plans change. Review it with the young person and the people supporting them. Independence can grow gradually while trusted support continues.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed and updated 28 October 2026.
Read next
For young people using OVcare, explore participation and personal goals in OVcare’s Young Person’s Portal.