Leaving Care is like jumping off a cliff, MPs were told at a meeting on Monday (18 November) hosted at the Houses of Parliament by Alex Baker, the Member of Parliament for Aldershot and Farnborough, and charity Step by Step.
Stevie (22), a young advocate and former resident of Step by Step’s Supported Lodgings programme, shared her experience of leaving care. After becoming homeless three years ago, Step by Step helped Stevie find stability with one of their supported lodgings host families. The support from Step by Step and her host ultimately allowed her to get her life back on track. She is now a first-year student at the University of Winchester, studying Creative Writing, and has discovered a passion for public speaking, which she will demonstrate by sharing her story at Westminster.
“When I reached the age of 19, I was suddenly on my own with no school, no home, and having to fend for myself. I am grateful to Step by Step who didn’t just provide a home—they listened, understood my needs, and helped me build skills and rebuild confidence. I’m honoured to advocate for change at Westminster,” Stevie said.
She told her story at the parliamentary launch of research undertaken by a team from Southampton University’s Centre for Homelessness Research and Practice. The Moving Towards Independence project captures the lived experiences of young care leavers, highlighting key barriers such as lack of stable accommodation, emotional isolation, and insufficient support systems. The report also offers actionable recommendations to improve outcomes for young people transitioning from supported care to independent living. Uniquely the team worked directly with the young people to co-produce the research and to craft the report’s conclusions.
The young people called upon MPs to address four priorities: Universal Credit parity; housing priority, emotional and practical support, and timely moving on information for the transition to the next stage in their lives.
Alex Baker MP, said: “In this research the young people themselves told us what would help them succeed as the make the transition to adulthood.
“It is vitally important that we listen, since the statistics show that people leaving care are more likely to be unemployed, to suffer from poorer health, to have fewer qualifications, and end up in trouble with the police.
“The work of local charity Step by Step shows that investing in support for young care leavers early on can massively improve their lives and reduce the longer-term cost to the taxpayer”.
Dr Becky Ward, research lead, commented: “These recommendations are a starting point, a marker to highlight some key areas to work on. They are not the end, or the final say, but have opened the door for decision makers and policy makers to consider and be creative in the possibilities for moving forwards.”
Debbie Moreton, Step by Step CEO, added: “We believe in empowering young people to be the heroes of their own stories. What makes this research special is its co-creation with the young people themselves. Their contributions have enriched our understanding, helping to create recommendations that are evidence-based and deeply rooted in their real-life needs. We are proud to present this research at the Houses of Parliament, advocating for the changes needed to secure a better future for vulnerable young people.”
