£90,000 boost announced for care leavers in Wales as national programme expands

Young people leaving care in Wales are set to benefit from a major funding boost, after Community Foundation Wales secured £90,000 as part of the UK-wide expansion of the Care Leavers Programme.

The funding will support care-experienced young people over the next three years, with the expanded programme launching in April 2026. We’ll now be working to secure match funding, which could double the impact of this investment across Welsh communities.

The Care Leavers Programme was launched in 2024 by the Local Authorities’ Mutual Investment Trust (LAMIT) and UK Community Foundations (UKCF), in collaboration with investment manager CCLA. It is a multi-year programme providing support for care leavers to survive and thrive as they transition to adulthood.

From university bursaries and driving lessons to home equipment and career coaching, the programme supports young people to take their next steps.

A new donation of £1.7 million over three years by the Henry Smith Foundation will expand the programme out to 14 new areas of the UK, including Wales. This expansion will bring the total programme value to £7 million, including matched funds, significantly increasing reach, impact and length of delivery.

Anand Shukla, Chief Executive at Henry Smith Foundation, said:

“We’re delighted to fund the expansion of the Care Leaver Programme across the UK. This work is important and ambitious – bringing together community foundations, local authorities and the Henry Smith Foundation. Together, we’ll increase critical support for both care leavers and the charitable organisations supporting them as they navigate their way into adulthood.”

Match funding will play an important role in growing the programme in Wales, with every pound donated helping to unlock even more support for care-experienced young people.

Andrea Powell, Director of Programmes and Deputy Chief Executive at Community Foundation Wales, said:

“This £90,000 investment gives us a strong starting point, but the real difference will come from what we can build together. With match funding in place, every contribution helps us reach further – opening up more opportunities and practical support for young people as they move into adulthood.”

A new report, published by UKCF, shows the reach that the Care Leavers Programme has had already.

Emma de Closset, Chief Executive at UK Community Foundations, said:

“The Care Leavers Programme has already demonstrated the power of local partnerships to create real, lasting change for care-experienced young people. We have seen the impact of this programme in its first year, and we are delighted to expand it further with the support of the Henry Smith Foundation.

“By expanding the programme to 14 more community foundations, the next phase represents a fantastic opportunity for more local and national partner organisations to help build a fairer start for young people leaving care, ensuring they have the support that every young person deserves.”

One of the key aims of the Care Leavers Programme is to also strengthen partnerships between local authorities and care leaver support networks, helping to build more joined-up, long-term support for young people across Wales.

If you’d like to find out more about getting involved in supporting the programme in Wales, please get in touch.