'You really are on your own': why care must not end at 18

Today’s publication of 'You really are on your own', the government-backed report into the premature deaths of young people who were in care, should stop us all in our tracks. Its findings are shocking, but sadly not surprising to those of us who work alongside care-experienced young people every day. 

At its heart, the report exposes a system that too often expects young people to become independent long before they are ready. The cliff edge at 18 has been documented for years: it is harmful, costly and deeply at odds with what we know about ordinary family life. The average young adult in the UK leaves home in their mid-twenties. Yet our care system still reduces support at 18 for young people who may already have experienced trauma, instability and loss. 

That is not care. It is abandonment by another name. 

The report’s key themes resonate strongly with Break’s work. We do not believe support, love or connection should end on a birthday. Our lifelong offer exists because young adults need somewhere to turn in crisis, in celebration and in the ordinary moments when family would normally be there. Relationships are not an optional extra; it is what helps young people feel they matter. 

Relationships matter more than services 

One of the report’s clearest findings is that successful transitions into adulthood are often linked to the presence of at least one trusted adult who remains committed to the young person. Young people are more likely to thrive when someone continues to guide, advocate for and believe in them after they leave care. 

Relationships are not a soft outcome; they are a protective factor. At Break, we have long believed that one consistent adult can alter a young person’s life trajectory. Our work is built on trusted, durable relationships that help young people build confidence, belonging and opportunity. The report strengthens the case for investing in relationship-based practice and maintaining connections beyond formal care. 

The cliff edge at 18 creates serious risk 

The report repeatedly describes young people reaching adulthood and facing a dramatic reduction in support at the very moment pressures multiply: housing, money, loneliness, relationships, mental health and safety. Many young people leaving care have never managed a household bill, lived alone or had to hold all the responsibilities of adulthood at once. When asked what leaving care felt like, too many answer with one word: alone. 

We would never expect most young people outside care to become fully independent overnight at 18. We should not expect it of young people who have already carried more than most. The government is moving towards a more needs-led response, but system change takes years and requires significant investment. Young people cannot wait for perfect policy before they get the relationships, housing and emotional support they need now. 

Systems must be trauma-informed and joined-up 

The review also highlights inconsistent responses from services and weak transitions between children’s and adult support. Some professionals knew young people well and stayed alongside them. Others appeared to know very little about those who died. Too often, the young person’s story was lost inside a one-size-fits-all system. 

This report is not only about individual experiences; it is about systems that fragment when young people most need them to hold steady. Every professional involved should understand the young person’s history, current needs and hopes for the future. That is why trauma-informed practice, workforce development and integrated partnerships matter. They keep the young person, not the process, at the centre of decision-making. 

The title 'You really are on your own' is perhaps the report’s most powerful finding. No young person who has grown up in care should feel alone when entering adulthood. The challenge now is not simply to respond with sympathy, but to act: to fund enduring relationships, build smoother transitions and create safety nets strong enough to prevent isolation becoming tragedy.