Every young person deserves the chance to grow into a confident, capable adult who can find their place in the world. For those leaving care, this transition often comes with added challenges and uncertainty.
Young care leavers or those on the cusp of leaving care often require more support to gain the skills and knowledge they need to live well independently.
At Roots, we offer a range of support – from fully supported accommodation with 24-hour assistance to mentoring and skills development – for young people aged 16 and up who are leaving care. We aim to ensure that our young people’s transition to adulthood and independent living is as positive and empowering as possible, and that they feel encouraged and cared for every step of the way.
16+ support
Our 16+ programme of support includes learning and skills development, wellbeing activities, mentoring and a network of support for young people who are transitioning from care to independence. Our staff are trained in using a trauma-informed approach and they work patiently at the pace of each young person.
The aim of the programme is to give young people the skills, confidence and resilience they need to support themselves and move on to independent living.
Activities focus on:
- Living skills – finances, budgeting, dealing with debt, cooking
- Wellbeing – food and nutrition, health and hygiene
- Relationships – relationships, parenting, emotions
- Personal development – confidence and self-esteem
- Employment and education – support, volunteering, cultural advice.
Supported Accommodation and Growing from the Roots
Our fully supported accommodation service is designed to bridge the gap between care and independent living. It gives young people the chance to gradually build independence through a structured, step-by-step approach – helping them grow in confidence and take control of their future at a pace that is right for them.
Our approach focuses on empowering young people in all areas of their lives, helping them to:
- become confident decision-makers and make responsible choices
- build their self-esteem, resilience, and personal identity
- engage with education, training, and employment opportunities
- understand their rights and how to advocate for themselves
- identify risks and be responsible for their personal safety
- build positive, long-term networks of support
- be responsible for managing their own finances
- develop strong connections and positive, meaningful relationships
- feel a part of their communities and enjoy their lives.
Our Accommodation
We offer high-quality accommodation designed to help young people build independence in a safe and supportive environment.
We have four self-contained one-bedroom flats, each with:
- a private en-suite bathroom
- a fully equipped kitchen
- a modern living space.
This setup allows young people to experience independent living while still having access to 24-hour support from our fully trained and dedicated staff team.
Our Support – Growing from the Roots
Our Growing from the Roots holistic support pathway is built on the belief that with strong foundations, young people can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Rooted in stability, care, and empowerment, our five-stage model provides tailored support that nurtures independence step by step. Through safe accommodation, 24-hour guidance, and meaningful mentoring, we help young people build confidence, resilience, and life skills – so they can branch out into adulthood, knowing who they are and what they want to achieve.
This model gives young people the space to grow, take responsibility, and develop essential life skills – while knowing that help is always available when needed.
We actively involve young people in shaping their future through well-timed, structured transitions that help them feel in control of their lives and ready for what comes next.
Even after they move on, our commitment continues – with ongoing outreach support and access to signposting services to help them stay connected and thrive. We also monitor their readiness for independence and wellbeing after care, ensuring they are not just prepared to move on – but to succeed.
Our impact – young person case study:
Tom
Tom came to live at one of our independent living flats at The Roots Foundation Wales having just turned 16 years old, after losing his foster carer to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tom had lived in care from the age of 10 and had been in 7 foster care placements. Tom was initially very withdrawn when he arrived at Roots, and this was increased by the prospect of living semi-independently – something that he had never done before. Tom also lacked some essential practical skills and knowledge needed to survive and thrive whilst living independently.
I was very worried at first about living by myself. I didn’t really know what I was doing and I was scared I wouldn’t be able to cope with things like paying my bills. Roots helped me to figure everything out and really made me feel like I could do things for myself. It was great having people I could ask for help, and to not feel so alone.
Through our Transition to independent living programme of tailored one-to-one support, we were able to work with Tom to build his social capacity, life skills and knowledge. We focused on a range of practical skills such as cooking independently and managing finances, so that Tom could put in place his own budgeting plans for things such as food and bills.
We supported Tom to open his own bank account and set up direct debits, to pay his weekly service charges. As a result of Tom’s engagement with this support, he was able to develop positive habits of looking after his money and make payments for when he later moved out to a place of his own.
Through Roots, I’ve been able to meet other people who understand me and I feel like there are others around that who care about me. Roots is like a family, and it’s given me the confidence to feel like I can build my future. I have a job that I enjoy and am also doing training to develop my skills. I’m hoping one day I will be able to start my own business.
We also worked with Tom to improve his mental health and resilience, which involved carrying out wellbeing sessions where Tom could learn to manage his emotions.
Tom identified this as being as important to him as the practical elements of independent living skills.
Our Story
For Young People
What we do
