Every year, thousands of young people leave the care system and move into independent or semi-independent accommodation, often with very few belongings and little or no support network around them.
Many step into their first home with almost nothing.
No bedding. No towels. No basic household essentials. No family waiting to help them settle in.
Just an empty room and the expectation to cope.
Our mission is to ensure that no young person leaving care begins adulthood in a bare room, but in a home that reflects dignity, comfort and belonging.
To help make that possible, we provide thoughtfully prepared first home kits containing household essentials such as bedding, towels, blankets, mugs and other comforting touches that help transform empty accommodation into a space that feels warm, lived in and welcoming.
We believe that a sense of inclusion and belonging is not abstract, it begins with the environment we walk into. Having a space that feels considered and cared for can shape how a young person feels about themselves.
No young person should enter this chapter of their life feeling unseen or unvalued.
We focus on the often overlooked details, items that are new, thoughtfully chosen and theirs to keep.
" We help turn houses into homes "
THE PROBLEM
What leaving care actually looks like
While many young people can rely on family for guidance, financial support, and a place to call home, those leaving care are often expected to face adulthood alone. Many move into empty accommodation with no bed, no bedding, no kitchenware, and few of the essentials needed to build a home.
These are not broken young people—they are young people placed in an unfair situation. Their challenges are not the result of personal failure, but of a system that expects independence without providing the support most of us take for granted.
What We Do and What Goes in a Kit
Here 2 Belong works alongside leaving care teams, social workers, personal advisers, inclusion workers and other professionals supporting young people as they move into independent or semi-independent accommodation.
Kits are provided on a referral basis and distributed by the professionals already working with each young person.
Each kit is packed into a large duffle bag and contains carefully selected everyday essentials, including:
Some items provide warmth.
Some items provide practicality.
Some items simply make an empty room feel a little more welcoming.
Together, they create something much greater than a collection of household essentials, they help turn a house into a home.
OUR VISION
Where we're going
We envision a society where every care experienced young person moves into adulthood with stability, dignity and a genuine sense of belonging.
A future where leaving care does not mean stepping into isolation or uncertainty, but into environments and communities that feel welcoming and supportive.
Our long term ambition is to help reshape the experience of leaving care in the UK, ensuring that practical home support, opportunities for self expression, access to life skills and meaningful inclusion in society are recognised as essential foundations for wellbeing and independence, not optional.
"This isn't something we can do alone - and we wouldn't want to."
Through thoughtful initiatives and partnerships, Here 2 Belong aims to create pathways where care experienced young people feel not only supported, but seen, heard and able to contribute their voices, talents and experiences to the communities around them.
