Supporting Care Experienced Young People: Why They’re Falling Through the Gaps—and What We’re Building Instead
Posted on:
This Isn’t Theory – This Is My Reality
I don’t just understand the challenges care experienced young people face—I’ve lived them.
Care.
Instability.
Being judged before being understood.
I’ve seen what happens when you fall through the gaps.
“I’ve lived that journey. And I know how quickly things can spiral when there’s no real support or direction. That’s why this work matters—it’s personal.”
At Genuine Futures, we’re not just supporting young people.
We’re challenging the system that’s failing them.
Why Care Experienced Young People Are Falling Through the Gaps
Too many care experienced young people are leaving the system without:
- Stability
- Consistent support
- Real opportunities
They’re passed between services that don’t connect.
They’re assessed, referred, and moved on—but not truly supported.
“Young people aren’t failing the system—the system is failing them. They’re falling through gaps that shouldn’t exist.”
And when those gaps widen, the consequences are serious:
- Becoming NEET
- Homelessness
- Isolation
- Entering the criminal justice system
The School-to-Prison Pipeline Is Real
We see it all the time.
Young people who:
- Struggle in school
- Get excluded
- End up in alternative provision
- Become disconnected
- Drift into offending
“You can almost predict the journey. School exclusion, no support, no direction—and then the justice system steps in.”
This is the school-to-prison pipeline, and it’s happening right now in our communities.
What We Do Differently at Genuine Futures
We don’t wait for crisis.
We build relationships early—and we stay.
We create an environment where young people feel:
- Safe
- Understood
- Respected
“You can’t build trust through a system that people don’t trust. You build it through consistency and lived experience.”
Restoring Trust, Hope, Purpose and Belonging
Many young people we work with have lost more than opportunity.
They’ve lost:
- Trust
- Hope
- Direction
- Belonging
Our job is to help them rebuild it.
“When a young person starts to feel like they belong somewhere, everything changes.”
The Many Ways We Support Care Experienced Young People
We don’t offer one solution—we build a journey.
1. Early Engagement & Trust
- Meeting young people where they are
- Creating safe, consistent environments
- Building relationships first
2. Youth-Led Enterprise (Real Work)
Through:
- We Shine Any Car
- Clean Futures
Young people:
- Gain hands-on experience
- Build confidence
- Learn responsibility
- Earn and contribute
“I started with a bucket and sponge. Now we’re giving young people that same chance—to start somewhere real.”
3. Community Power Through Enterprise
Young people:
- Engage with local businesses
- Deliver services
- Build real-world confidence
“Growth happens out here—in the real world, not in a classroom.”
4. Mentoring & Progression Pathways
We provide:
- Ongoing mentoring
- Support into employment
- Routes into self-employment
This is a journey into independence.
5. Care Experienced Futures
We are developing Care Experienced Futures—a pathway designed to ensure young people:
- Don’t fall through the gaps
- Have consistent support
- Can see a clear future
“Care experienced young people need more than support—they need a future they can believe in.”
Creating Real Pathways
Everything leads somewhere:
Engagement → Skills → Confidence → Opportunity
“It’s not enough to engage young people—we have to show them where it leads.”
Why Long-Term Support Matters
Short-term support doesn’t work.
Young people need:
- Consistency
- Stability
- Ongoing relationships
“Too many young people get support for a short time, then it disappears. We’re here for the long run.”
What I See Every Day
I don’t see statistics.
I see potential.
“There’s so much talent in these young people. They just haven’t been given the opportunity yet.”
Final Thought
Care experienced young people are not the problem.
The system is.
But systems can change.
“No one’s coming to fix this for us—but together, we can build something better.”
That’s what we’re doing at Genuine Futures.
