Children in Care and Care Leavers

During 2026, Crysalys will take over the charity Stand Out Northamptonshire (SON), with SON’s focused, successful work becoming a specific project within the UK charity. Crysalys and SON have been in formal coalition for several years, working together on common themes: under resourced children with poor outcomes and trauma. Services that will continue include Caring Connections and the development of an ethical, sustainable social sector children’s home model of excellence, with children’s needs at the heart and soul of everything.

This home model was developed by a working group led by SON between 2021 and 2024, including children still in care and those with lived experience of care. This is not rocket science. However, mental health, education, employment, criminal justice, suicide and homelessness outcomes for children in care remain completely unacceptable despite £billions spent, with over 70% of that finance going straight into private sector pockets.