'I left a children's home – and was embraced by love'

Poppie was 10 when she entered the care system after her relationship with her mother broke down. She lived with a foster family, then moved to a children's home in Hertfordshire. Just before her 18th birthday, she left the home.

Poppie has no contact with her birth family. However, she found a new family in Brigitte Marshall, 58, and her son, Reuben, 24. They were support workers at her care home.

Reuben was Poppie's key worker and helped her with her GCSEs. Now, Brigitte and Reuben go with her to medical appointments. They also helped her choose a college course. Poppie will start a health and care course in September and hopes to become a doctor.

Poppie, now 18, attends family BBQs, social events, and trips with the Marshalls. She calls Brigitte "mummy Brigitte." Poppie said, "I had no-one else, so to feel part of a family after leaving care is making a huge difference."

Poppie benefited from the government's Finding Family program. A local council coordinator helped her build this bond with the Marshall family.

Finding Support After Care

Many young people leaving care face a "cliff edge." Support can stop almost overnight. Brigitte said the thought of Poppie being alone was "shocking." She wanted Poppie to feel "valued, loved and supported." Brigitte has four children but considers Poppie part of her family.

Mackenzie, 20, also received support from the Finding Family program, which started piloting in 2023. He spent six years in care after his mother died and his relationship with his father broke down. He was in a care home far from his family.

His coordinator helped him reconnect with his wider family, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and a half-sister. She even organized a family get-together. Mackenzie said, "It's wonderful to feel close to them again." He noted his coordinator provided a "safe space" to connect with his family.

Expanding the Program

The government wants all 80,000 children in care to have this kind of support. The Department for Education has given money to 25 local areas. This funding helps them hire coordinators. These coordinators help children build new relationships with trusted adults. This can include family members, teachers, coaches, or care workers like Brigitte.

During the pilot, young people made an average of almost two meaningful relationships. More than one-third reconnected with family. While some councils and charities offer similar support, it's not widespread.

The government plans to provide £8.4 million over the next three years. This will ensure all children in and leaving care are offered this support. Children's minister Josh MacAlister hopes this will help children "achieve and thrive." He noted that "too many children leave care without the lifelong relationships that most of us rely on."

This is part of a larger plan to improve children's social care. It includes creating more foster placements and keeping children closer to home. Councils will also provide support for housing and employment until age 25.

Cathy Ashley, head of the Family Rights Group, called the roll-out a "brilliant start." Her charity helped develop the Lifelong Links model used in the program. However, she said "huge challenges" remain. Young people leaving care are three times more likely to be out of education, employment, or training. They are also more likely to become homeless within two years. Ashley stressed the need for more housing and employment support. "We have to keep building from here if we are going to solve this," she said.