Arabic version: دراسة تكشف فوائد منحة بقيمة 2000 جنيه إسترليني لمغادري الرعاية

A recent study from King’s College London indicates that care leavers who received a one-off, no-strings-attached £2,000 grant experienced significant improvements in their lives. According to BBC News, the research shows that these individuals were less likely to face homelessness, spend time in hospital, or become involved in the criminal justice system.

The study involved 302 participants aged 18 to 25, all of whom had been in care under nine different local authorities in England. Following an online survey, 100 participants were randomly selected to receive the grant starting in June 2023. Follow-ups at six and twelve months revealed that those who received the money enjoyed greater housing stability, reduced instances of sofa-surfing, and lower arrest rates.

Participants also reported improved health outcomes, including increased visits to healthcare services and less overnight hospital stays. Notably, those who received the cash transfer spent 12% less on substances such as alcohol and tobacco compared to their previous spending.

Aeryn Hill, a 22-year-old care leaver from the West Midlands, shared her experience, stating that the £2,000 had made “a big improvement” in her life. She used the funds to purchase a new computer for her studies in forensic investigations and to take her partner on a holiday. Hill described the time in care as mentally taxing and emphasized the importance of having financial support.

The findings have prompted recommendations for local councils to consider implementing similar direct financial support for care leavers. Researchers also suggest conducting a larger, long-term study to explore the potential for even greater benefits from higher or repeated cash transfers.