The nature and scale of the challenges faced by care leavers mean it is difficult for them to be tackled by local authorities alone, and there is an increasing need for organisations across all sectors of society to commit to supporting care leavers.
This is even more vital in the context of devolution and combined local authorities, which create opportunities for local areas to learn from effective and integrated approaches to supporting care leavers.
This report presents the findings of Learning and Work Institute’s research into localised approaches to supporting care leavers and looked after children.
It includes a review of evidence demonstrating the need for integrated models of support, highlights critical success factors of existing local approaches, along with case studies of local areas which have successfully developed effective models of support for care leavers.
17 March 2026
There’s one million NEETs in the UK. Are we doing enough?
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive at Learning and Work Institute, reflects on the Government’s expansion of the Youth Guarantee and if support is going far enough to help young people into work or training.
17 March 2026
Beyond the headline: What emerging qualitative insights tell us about supporting young people into work
Iona McArdle, L&W’s JobsPlus Programme Manager, shares some emerging insights from the JobsPlus evaluation on young people’s experiences of being not in education, employment or training (NEET).
16 March 2026
Responding to the Government’s announcement on expanding opportunities for young people
L&W Chief Executive Stephen Evans responds to the Government’s announcement on expanding opportunities for young people on 16 March 2026.
13 March 2026
Training and skills needs: Trends and challenges in UK growth sectors
This report, the second in a series of publications funded by Nuffield Foundation, explores the level of estimated skills needs in UK businesses alongside the level and type of training that employers provide.
13 March 2026
UK’s training and skills ‘tick-box culture’ puts at risk job mobility and future growth, new report warns
New analysis has identified an overreliance on mandatory and compliance training in UK workplaces compared to other countries – at the expense of more in-depth upskilling required for the jobs of the future.
2 March 2026
When it comes to lifelong learning, are we any closer to the College of the Future?
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive at Learning and Work Institute, reflects on the role of colleges in providing adults with opportunity and agency throughout their lives.
2 March 2026
Why adult education is an investment, not a cost
David Hughes, CEO at the Association of Colleges, sets out why a well-funded, high-quality adult education system is beneficial to society and the economy.
26 February 2026
New innovation trial offers young Londoners with health conditions tailored support to get ‘work ready’
Shaw Trust is funding and designing a new service to help young people with a health condition or disability get ‘work ready.’ The innovation trial will be evaluated by L&W and launched in partnership with the West London Alliance.
26 February 2026
Responding to the latest NEET data, February 2026
Learning and Work Institute chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the NEET data released on 26 February 2026.
