Introducing the 'My Future Me' Pilot Programme

Supporting Care-Experienced Young People to Build a Brighter Tomorrow

Please note: This pilot programme was originally announced under the working title 'For My Future'. During the co-production process with care-experienced young people, the programme has been renamed 'My Future Me'.

At The For Baby’s Sake Trust, we are committed to breaking the cycles of trauma and domestic abuse that affect generations. Today, we are proud to announce the launch of our My Future Me pilot programme, a trauma-informed therapeutic approach to support care-experienced young people to develop healthy relationships for life. A driving force for this work is the significant lack of support for emotional health and wellbeing for young people leaving care. It is preventative, not reactive; an opportunity to address trauma and empower young people with the knowledge and skills to foster healthy relationships and support their emotional wellbeing.

Why Focus on Care-Experienced Young People?

The statistics surrounding care-experienced young people in the UK highlight a stark reality:

From 2010 to 2021, the number of children aged 16 and over in care rose by 37%, with this age group now being the fastest-growing cohort entering care.

Care leavers are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges, unemployment, homelessness, domestic abuse and criminal justice involvement.

Nearly a quarter of girls in care become teenage mothers, and 40% of mothers who have had multiple children removed spent time in care themselves.

These figures paint a picture of young people affected by a system that is ill-equipped to support them as they transition out of care, particularly those entering it during adolescence. Many care leavers feel isolated and lack the role models and supportive networks their peers rely on during early adulthood.

Research highlights a particular lack of evidence-based provision focused on mental and emotional health needs. Evidence shows that care-experienced young people want to be listened to and understood, to have more control, choice and agency and to have trusting relationships with professionals when discussing mental health and related support needs. Services may be more acceptable and appropriate if they place greater importance on the supportive relationships and social networks in their lives.

At The For Baby’s Sake Trust, we’ve seen these gaps in provision first-hand. A significant proportion of parents in our For Baby’s Sake programme are care-experienced; up to 25% in different regions. By intervening earlier through My Future Me and providing much needed trauma-informed support and the knowledge and skills to develop healthy relationships, we aim to equip young people with the skills and tools to live fulfilled and resilient lives.

About the 'My Future Me' Programme

My Future Me offers care-experienced young people tailored, one-to-one therapeutic support over six months, with additional needs-based follow-up, for up to six months more, providing support for up to a year in total. Delivered by our Therapeutic Practitioners, the programme will focus on:

Building resilience and emotional regulation skills.

Understanding and processing trauma from their own childhoods.

Fostering healthy relationships, whether with peers, family, or future partners.

Improving mental health and emotional wellbeing.

For those interested, preparing for future parenthood through an optional module.

By working closely with an experts by experience group of care-experienced young people, we will co-design the programme to ensure it meets their needs and resonates with their lived experiences.

A Trauma-Informed, Preventative Approach

My Future Me is grounded in the principles that have made For Baby’s Sake so impactful:

A trauma-informed and attachment-focused methodology.

A holistic view of the individual’s needs, with support tailored to their unique circumstances.

A focus on sustained, meaningful change through deep therapeutic relationships.

Key outcomes we aim to achieve include:

Improved mental health and emotional well-being, measured using validated tools like the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS).
Enhanced resilience and self-esteem, fostering a sense of agency and worth.
Stronger connections with family, community, or peers, reducing isolation.

The Power of Therapeutic Support

The heart of the My Future Me programme will lie in the therapeutic relationship each young person will build with their Therapeutic Practitioner. Weekly sessions, probably delivered mostly via video or phone calls, will provide a consistent, safe space for young people to explore their emotions, reflect on their past, and develop the skills needed for a healthier future.

Our Therapeutic Practitioners are highly skilled professionals with backgrounds in social care, mental health, probation, and family support. Their expertise ensures that each young person receives compassionate, non-judgmental care that validates their experiences and empowers them to believe they can have a brighter future.

A Brighter Future for All

The ripple effects of My Future Me extend beyond the individual participants. By equipping care-experienced young people with the tools to build healthier relationships, we help prevent future instances of domestic abuse, reduce the strain on social care systems, and contribute to healthier, safer communities.

Moreover, by adding to the evidence base around the needs of care-experienced young people, we aim to influence national policy and advocate for systemic changes that prioritise trauma-informed support for healthy relationships during the critical transition to adulthood.

A Collaborative Effort

The My Future Me pilot will launch in one location, with the intention of scaling up over time. We will work closely with local authorities, social care teams, mental health services, and community organisations to ensure a comprehensive, joined-up approach.

We are delighted that Hertfordshire County Council has agreed to be our host partner, building on our partnership that began during the design of For Baby’s Sake and has continued throughout the past 10 years of delivering For Baby’s Sake in the county.

Thank You to Our Supporters

The launch of My Future Me would not have been possible without the generosity and vision of our supporters. Your belief in the importance of early intervention and trauma-informed care has enabled us to take this critical step towards breaking cycles of trauma and abuse for care-experienced young people.

Thank You to Our Evaluation and Learning Partner

The For Baby’s Sake Trust is delighted that we have selected Rocket Science as our evaluation and learning partner for the My Future Me pilot programme.

This partnership will help us to capture the learning and assess the achievements of My Future Me, a trauma-informed therapeutic approach to support care-experienced young people to develop healthy relationships for life.

Rocket Science brings extensive experience in evaluation and research, with a strong focus on social impact, improving equality for those with complex life experiences and empowering young people to participate in research and evaluation.

My Future Me will offer care-experienced young people tailored, one-to-one therapeutic support over six months, with additional needs-based follow-up, for up to six months more, providing support for up to a year in total. The For Baby’s Sake Trust is co-producing this new pilot programme in partnership with a co-production Advisory Team of care-experienced young people.

Rocket Science will work closely with The For Baby’s Sake Trust and the Advisory Team to gather evidence, analyse findings and provide insights to help ensure that My Future Me is making a meaningful difference. Their expertise will be invaluable in informing the pilot programme’s development and assessing its effectiveness with knowledge that will be valuable to policymakers, commissioners and the wider sector.

By partnering with Rocket Science, we are reinforcing our commitment to co-production approaches and to delivering high-quality, evidence-based support for care-experienced young people. We look forward to working together to generate vital insights that will inform best practice and drive long-term change.

Stay tuned for updates as we share our learning from this important project.