The need

Care leavers must leave residential homes by their eighteenth birthday. This has been described as a “cliff edge” for these vulnerable young people, and one in three is homeless within two years of leaving care. Nationally, there is a lack of quality semi-independent accommodation (SIA) available for them.

Young people leaving care need a safe place to call home, where they can learn both independent living skills and relationship skills:

• A space to call their own, self-contained and for which they are responsible
• A space to meet others and build friendships, sharing an evening meal
• A space which supports their mental health and brings healing
• A space with opportunities for training and even employment
• A space with live-in or adjacent staff to support their transition to adult life
• A space that feels like a home and not an institution or hostel
• A space which is aspirational and underpins their dignity

Our vision

Many young people leaving care have experienced trauma, which may impact their mental health and their capacity to take opportunities. Research suggests that the most effective way to address trauma is through relationships1; however, often young people leave care without a network and lacking relationship-building skills.

We intend to develop an innovative and field-leading model of SIA for care leavers (16-25), transforming prospects and outcomes. Shaped by the voices of young people and ‘experts by experience’, the project will embed our trauma-informed therapeutic approach into the fabric and function of the built space, alongside a lifelong offer of ongoing support and connection. It will include innovative approaches including enterprise (for training/employment), cooperative principles and a ‘mixed economy’ tenancy composition – providing a replicable, scalable and financially sustainable model that can be implemented nationally.