The Guardian view on the care system: support for teens must go beyond reunions with old friends | Editorial

The UK government announced a new national scheme to support care leavers in England on June 4, 2026, aiming to help them reconnect with family, friends, and trusted adults. This initiative, inspired by the idea that "People will always need people," as written by Benjamin Zephaniah, is intended to combat the isolation and vulnerability disproportionately faced by young people leaving the care system. The scheme, which has an initial budget of £8.4 million, is described as a "Who Do You Think You Are?-style service" for care leavers. Local councils already operate similar programs, but this national rollout seeks to provide a more widespread solution to the challenge of broken connections. Care leavers are at a higher risk of homelessness, poor mental health, incarceration, and premature death, and fostering these relationships is seen as a crucial step in mitigating these risks and aiding their transition to independent living. The recognition of relationships as fundamental to human flourishing is a key aspect of this new support structure.