Leaving care often means leaving relationships behind.
For many young people in the care system, turning 18 marks a transition to independence with a sudden loss of consistent support.
Over 12,000 16-18-year-olds leave care every year across England and Wales, often before they feel ready. Many young people are facing homelessness, have poor mental health, and limited qualifications. Rather than a celebration, the run up to their 18th birthday is a deadline filled with dread.
NYAS’s Side-by-Side programme supports young care leavers by matching them with a trained volunteer who will be both a friend and mentor as they transition into adulthood. The programme also provides bursaries for skill development and essential items, for those without the financial safety net that so many others rely on upon turning 18.
Our BBC Radio 4 Appeal for Side-by-Side
We’re thrilled that our fundraising appeal for the Side-by-Side programme will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at the end of June, presented by the incredible poet, writer and broadcaster Lemn Sissay. Put a note in your diary for our broadcast times below to hear why your support could make the biggest difference, or hear it from Lemn himself in the video below. It costs around £3000 to recruit, train and support a volunteer – your donation can help us support more care leavers today.
Matching young care leavers with trusted adults
Side-by-Side exists to ensure no young person navigates the transition into adulthood alone. The programme matches care-experienced young people aged 16–25 with trained volunteers who will be a friend and mentor, creating consistent, trusted relationships, something many have never experienced.
These relationships provide:
- Emotional support, through regular, reliable contact
- Practical help, from budgeting and cooking to navigating housing and employment
- Confidence and reassurance, especially during moments of crisis or uncertainty
- Connection, through shared activities and community building
What makes Side-by-Side different is not just what volunteers do, but that they stay.
Support is flexible and led by the young person - whether that’s meeting for a walk, popping out for a food shop, going to events out in their community or with other care leavers, or simply having someone to talk to. If you’re interested in volunteering as a trusted adult mentor or friend, fill out our expression of interest form at the link below.
Practical help when it matters most
Alongside relational support through programmes like Side-by-Side, NYAS provides practical financial support to care leavers at critical moments of transition, helping bridge the gap between what systems provide and what young people actually need to build independent lives.
Young people are supported with a bursary of up to £500 towards essential items and opportunities not typically funded through statutory provision.
Louis's Story
After leaving care, Louis moved from hostel to hostel, isolated and struggling to manage daily life. He was at risk of homelessness and unsure how to move forward. At 21, he was matched with John through Side-by-Side. They met weekly- shopping, walking, cooking - simple, consistent moments that built trust and stability over time. John helped Louis manage his money, learn to care for his home, and reconnect with others. But more than that, John became someone Louis could rely on. Someone who stayed.
Over time, the impact was transformational. Louis is now living independently in his own flat. He has developed the skills to manage daily life and his finances. He is applying for work and planning for the future. Crucially, he describes feeling “in control of his own future”.
For Louis, success is the ability to cope, to feel stable, and to look ahead. His experience reflects wider programme impact:
- Young people develop strong, trusting relationships distinct from statutory services
- Loneliness and isolation reduce through regular contact and social activity
- Mental wellbeing improves through consistent, non-judgemental support
- Young people gain practical skills and increased engagement in education or employment
Is Side-by-Side Available in my area?
We are currently fundraising to expand the Side-by-Side programme across England and Wales. For local authorities in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton, West Berkshire and Solihul where Side-by-Side is currently operating, young people can be referred to the service at this link, where you should select ‘volunteer based services’ as the required service:
Bringing Side-by-Side to new areas
If you work for a local authority and are interested in bringing the Side-by-Side programme to your area, please fill out our expression of interest form here, and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible:
I want to volunteer for the Side-by-Side programme
If you’re interesting in becoming a volunteer with NYAS and supporting care-experienced young people, reaching out to our volunteering team by filling out this expression of interest form: