Imagine this.

You’re 17.
You’ve just been told by your social worker or foster carer that you’re no longer going to be living with them.

A place you’ve called home.
A place where you’ve felt safe, maybe even with carers you’ve come to see as mum and dad.

And now, you’re being told you’re moving.
Somewhere new. Unfamiliar. Possibly miles away.

Unprepared.
Uninformed.
And certainly not inspired.

For thousands of young people across the UK, this isn’t a scenario - it’s their reality.

For years, working as a Personal Advisor, I saw this first hand.
Young people reaching adulthood without the tools, confidence, or preparation they needed - and then being expected to just “figure it out.”

And the consequences are deeply concerning:

Around 25% of the homeless population are care leavers.
Around 25% of the prison population have spent time in care.
41% of care leavers are not in education, employment or training.
And they are significantly more likely to take their own lives.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

I’m a qualified social worker and spent eight years as a Personal Advisor supporting young people leaving care. But my understanding of this system didn’t start there.

I grew up in care myself after losing my mum and experiencing my dad’s struggles with alcohol. Before entering care, I experienced multiple adverse childhood experiences. That dual perspective - both lived and professional -shapes everything I do today.

Because I’ve seen both sides.
I’ve lived it, and I’ve worked in it.

And I know that if we want different outcomes, we need a different approach.

That’s why we created Skills 2 Thrive - an asynchronous learning platform designed to properly prepare young people for the realities of adulthood. Through video-led content, interactive learning, and certification, we focus on building knowledge, confidence, and independence and interdependence.

But it’s not just about information.

Because preparation isn’t just about knowing what to do - it’s about believing you can do it.

My mission is simple:

To empower young people to thrive as they transition out of care.

skills2thrive.co.uk