I find myself at the ‘care-cliff’: is the system failing care leavers by abruptly ending support at 25?

Thuy Ly-Chambers

Community Care

“I’m a care leaver.”

“What’s that?” or “Wow” – are some responses I get when I tell people I grew up in care. In my experience, people have little awareness of what a care leaver is, nor do they recognise the challenges care leavers face unless they have knowledge of the care system.

Growing up, I longed for a normal family where I didn’t stand out racially or have to state my next of kin as ‘foster carer’ on application forms. My foster family’s Jamaican and Irish heritages combined with my Vietnamese heritage often attracted inquisitive stares or questions.