At Norman Galloway Homes, we are committed to changing the trajectory for care leavers by providing more than just accommodation. We ensure that every young person in our accommodation has access to our Care Leaver jobs programme that connects them to real employment opportunities, skills development, and long-term career progression.
The best part? Local authorities placing young people in our accommodation do not pay anything extra for this programme. It is a standard part of our offer because we believe that housing alone is not enough, financial independence and job stability are the key to building positive relationships and breaking the cycle of disadvantage.
Care leavers often face multiple disadvantages, including higher unemployment rates, housing instability, and contact with the criminal justice system. The English Care Review found that each child entering the care system costs the state £1.2 million in lifetime costs.
By investing in employment opportunities for care leavers, we are providing opportunities for organisations and government agencies both local and national to partner with us to pilot interventions that demonstrate social, economic and fiscal impact.
When care leavers are in stable employment, the benefits extend across multiple sectors, reducing costs and improving outcomes for both individuals and society.
The NHS benefits because those in employment are more likely to engage with healthcare proactively rather than through emergency services. Stable work reduces drug and alcohol dependency, as financial security and routine help prevent substance misuse. Mental health outcomes improve due to decreased stress and lower cortisol levels, and reduced exposure to diseases associated with poverty, such as malnutrition, respiratory conditions, and cardiovascular diseases.
The criminal justice system sees substantial cost savings as employment provides structure and financial security, reducing crime rates, addiction-related offenses, anti-social behaviour, and domestic violence. Fewer care leavers enter the prison system, reducing the burden on courts, probation services, and victims’ support initiatives.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits from a reduction in welfare dependency, as fewer care leavers require Jobseeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit, or housing-related benefits. Employment ensures they contribute to the economy rather than relying on state support.
For the Treasury, the impact is twofold: increased tax revenue from employed care leavers and greater productivity in the economy. With higher earnings, care leavers contribute more in income tax, National Insurance, and consumer spending, reinforcing economic growth while reducing reliance on public funds.
The homelessness sector benefits as employed care leavers are significantly less likely to face evictions or require temporary accommodation, which reduces the demand for costly emergency housing interventions. Employment also prevents the severe health issues associated with rough sleeping, which often result in increased hospital admissions and drastically lower life expectancy.
Social care services are facing unprecedented financial pressures, with costs spiralling out of control, forcing some councils to issue Section 114 notices, effectively declaring bankruptcy. A significant portion of these escalating costs comes from the growing demand for children’s social care, particularly the high costs associated with placements for 16- and 17-year-olds in care and the long-term expenses incurred when care leavers struggle to transition into independence.
Children in care often find themselves butting up against a system that was not designed for them, a system that prioritises crisis management over long-term solutions. Many young people experience multiple placement breakdowns, leading to frequent moves, instability, and an increased reliance on costly emergency placements. Each placement breakdown not only disrupts a young person's life but also escalates costs for local authorities, who must continuously find and fund new placements.
The Care Leaver Jobs Programme provides an alternative pathway for care-experienced young people to build true independence outside of the care system. Stable employment reduces instability, helps young people gain the confidence and skills they need to sustain themselves, and prevents unnecessary placement moves, which in turn saves councils significant costs.
By giving care leavers access to real employment, placements become more stable because young people have a clear path to financial and personal independence. This reduces the likelihood of crisis-driven placement breakdowns and the need for costly reactive interventions.
Breaking the cycle of care is critical for long-term savings and better family stability. Without support, many care leavers struggle with housing, finances, and parenting, often leading to their children entering the care system, perpetuating the same cycle of high-cost interventions for local authorities.
By equipping care leavers with employment, life skills, and stability, we are preventing the next generation from entering care, reducing demand on foster care placements, residential care, and social services. In turn, this creates long-term financial savings for councils while ensuring better outcomes for families.
Currently, our Jobs Programme is included at no extra cost for young people living in our accommodation. However, there are are around 2,000 care leavers aged 16-25 in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. (around 200 leaving each year) Over 10,000 children leave care in England every year. Our vision is that every care leaver should have the same opportunity, regardless of where they live.
We invite commissioners from the NHS, DWP, Youth Justice, Prisons, and social care to invest in this programme, ensuring that all care leavers in our region can access employment support, not just those in our homes.
By partnering with us, your organisation can:
✅ Reduce homelessness
✅ Decrease crime and reoffending rates
✅ Lower welfare dependency
✅ Improve long-term health outcomes
✅ Strengthen the workforce
If your organisation or department wants to contribute financially to expanding this programme for a particular cohort of care leavers, get in touch today. Together, we can create a national standard that ensures every care leaver is given the opportunity to succeed.
Do you have a care leaver aged 16 or 17 in Nottingham or Nottinghamshire that you think would benefit from this program that is living with another provider?
Contact us today to discuss partnership opportunities.
