Whatever you’re going through, we’re here to help.
Life’s full of all kinds of challenges. And being a young person today can sometimes feel like you’re carrying a huge weight around. If you’d like some help to lift the load, we’re here with services and information that can make life a little lighter.
Are you a young person preparing to leave care? Or have recently left?
You’ve got this. If you want a hand, we can help you find somewhere to live, learn independent living skills and money management, find work, training or continue with education. We can also help you access support and counselling.
Leaving home can be a challenge for anyone, but it can be even tougher if you’re a young person leaving care.
We know that taking your first steps into adulthood is both exciting and daunting. You gain new independence and get to make your own choices. But you also have to budget, keep the fridge stocked and cook for yourself — all whilst juggling a job or college.
It’s a big learning curve for any young person. But it can be even harder when you’re a young person leaving care.
If it seems tough, don’t worry. We’re here to help.
Across the UK, we have a wide range of incredible teams who can help. Find a specific support service near you here.
In England and Wales, you don’t have to leave care until you’re 18. But some young people can leave as early as 16.
If you are planning on leaving care early, make sure it is the right choice for you as living by yourself can be a big change.
Just because you are leaving care, it doesn’t mean you’ll be on your own.
We can help you:
find somewhere to live, including supported lodgings
learn independent living skills and manage your money
continue with education
Whether you’re feeling good or not so great, it’s important to understand your mental health so you feel your best self as often as possible. Our mental health hub is full of useful articles and advice on how to get support with your wellbeing.
Get help for your mental health
Who we are
Everyone has mental health and sometimes you can struggle with how you feel. You’re not alone and help is available.
We offer lots of services to help you look after your mental health. This can include help in school, play therapy, or counselling.
We can help you:
check if there is a Barnardo’s support team near you
get information about mental health
find other organisations who can help in a way you’re comfortable with
Are you experiencing homelessness? Or think you’re about to lose your home?
You deserve a place to call home, whatever that means to you. If you’re a young person who has experienced care and is now at risk of (or experiencing) homelessness, we’ll may be able to help you find a safe and supportive place to live.
Everybody should have a safe place to live
It’s a basic human right, yet thousands of children and young people are homeless in Britain today.
We work with young people and families to help them to find and keep a home.
We work with young people who are homeless and those living in places that aren’t safe or don’t have a proper tenancy. We help them get somewhere to live that’s right for them, and we support them in their tenancies.
We provide supported lodgings for some young people, for example if they are leaving care. With our expert advice and emotional support, they can eventually find safe housing of their own.
Our outreach teams on the streets actively look for homeless young people. We provide a friendly ear as well as referring them to the right people and organisations who can help them.
Get help if you're worried about a child
Find out where to get emergency help for yourself or for someone else, and other organisations you can reach out to for support.
Find a service
Want a hand finding a job, training or developing your skills?
Explore training and employment opportunities in your area. We provide courses, support and careers advice, whether you’re interested in sports coaching or business administration.
We provide courses, support and careers advice, whether you’re interested in construction qualifications or a hairdressing apprenticeship.
If you’re a young person looking to enter employment, we work with you on an individual basis to find the best training and employment opportunities in your area.
And then, once you are in training or work, we give you ongoing support to make sure it’s all working out for you. From help with application forms to interview techniques, Royal children Foundation’s is there to offer support every step of the way.
As well as providing specific qualifications, employability skills, and career advice and guidance, we also offer apprenticeships programmes.
Do you care for someone else?
You might be a young carer without even knowing. If you’re under 18 and help look after someone with an illness, disability, or substance abuse problem, we can help you. We’ve put together support and guidance to make sure you’re living your life to the full, whatever that means to you.
All children deserve a childhood
Young people with caring responsibilities have all the challenges of being young, with all the responsibilities of being an adult, and they’re often left to face these alone.
What is a young carer?
A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who helps to care for a family member, relative or friend. A young person aged 16-25 with caring responsibilities can be known as a young adult carer.
As many as 1 in 5 children and young people are young carers in the UK.
What do young carers do?
As a young carer you might support someone who has a disability, a long-term illness, or a problem with alcohol or drugs. Without this help, they would struggle or not be able to cope.
Some of the time, I get him his clothes, take his clothes out and push them in the washer. I take his shoes off sometimes…
Young carers often do a lot of helpful things, such as:
Cook and prepare meals
Help with the shopping
Clean around the house
Manage medicines or money
Give personal care
Help their special person move and get out of the house
Look after their siblings
Give emotional support
Keep an eye on things generally
If young carer families start to struggle financially, young carers also often take on work in addition to their caring responsibilities.
Learn more about what it's like being a young carer with Lola's story.
Leah's Story
Leah started caring for her mum, who suffers from a chronic pain disorder, when she was just six years old. She talks to us about how her past is inspiring her future as a Royal Children Foundation’s apprentice.
Impact of being a young carer
Being a young carer can make young people feel good about themselves and proud of the useful skills they learn. However, many young carers don’t see themselves as carers and miss out on getting the help and support they often so desperately need and deserve.
Young carers take on caring responsibilities not just occasionally but as part of their everyday lives, often over a long period of time, meaning they also often miss out on opportunities that other children have to play, learn and be young.
Many struggle educationally with being able to focus on school whilst overwhelmed by other worries or can be bullied for being ‘different’. They can become isolated, with no relief from the pressures at home, with 1 in 3 young carers saying that caring makes them feel stressed.
If you’re a young carer who is struggling, remember it’s perfectly okay to ask for support when you need it.
Being a young carer is a tough job. You are taking care of a person you love, maybe your parent, grandparent or a sibling. But always know you have someone to talk to, someone who is able to remove you from your responsibilities for a while so you can have some ‘you’ time.
How we support young carers
We aim to help as many young carers as we can. We help them look after their loved ones and give them time to enjoy their childhoods.
At our services across the UK we:
organise outings and activities for young carers
give young carers advice and emotional support through counselling sessions
help the family get support from social services
talk to a young carer’s school, so teachers understand their situation and can be supportive
run drop-in centres where young carers can take a break, have fun, be a child – and meet other young carers
Find help as a young carer
If you’re a young person who cares for others or you’re worried about a young carer, you can explore what help you might be entitled to or you can explore our local services to see how we can help.
Search through our services for young carers and their families in your local area below if you or someone you know needs support.
Royal children Foundation’s helped me to believe in myself. I started to understand that I can have a life, I don’t need to be home 24/7. I can have a life, and I feel part of something. Before, I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere.
We can help you stay safe
If you’re worried about online safety, domestic abuse, child sexual abuse and exploitation, female genital mutilation (FGM), alcohol and substance abuse or child trafficking, the first thing to do is to learn more about it.
“My mental health is so much better now.”
Corinne, a young parent, went from feeling isolated and experiencing postnatal depression to speaking up for others at the 2023 political party conferences.
Are you a parent or carer?
We know your role is far from easy. We can help.