£140m Devon Council plan aims to transform support for vulnerable young people

Devon County Council has set out plans for a £140 million overhaul of services supporting young people aged 16 to 25 who are leaving care or at risk of homelessness, with funding spread over the next decade.

The new framework, called My Future, My Way, is designed to replace the current system of fragmented services with a more joined-up model that follows young people as they move towards independent living.

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The council says the £140 million figure represents a reallocation of existing Devon County Council budgets, rather than new funding, and will be spent over a 10-year period.

A new model has been developed to ensure young people receive the right level of support at the right time, delivered by workers with appropriate skills and, crucially, with greater continuity.

Under the proposals, dedicated Key Support Workers would remain involved as young people move from supported accommodation into shared housing or their own tenancies, rather than support ending when they leave a specific placement.

The council says the approach responds directly to feedback from young people, who have highlighted the importance of stable, consistent relationships in helping them progress.

Currently, 125 young people are living in Devon County Council-supported housing, with projections showing that the number of care-experienced young people aged 18 to 25 entitled to enhanced statutory support is expected to grow over the next three years.

While demand is rising, the council believes more young people could live successfully in their own tenancies if better support was available during and after the transition from supported accommodation.

A spokesperson said the new framework aims to reduce evictions from supported housing, which can increase the risk of homelessness, by improving the quality of accommodation and ensuring that moves are planned and properly supported.

The council also expects the new model to improve longer-term outcomes, including housing stability, mental health, education, training and employment, while reducing reliance on emergency accommodation.

Key Performance Indicators will be developed further as part of the procurement process, with providers involved in shaping how success will be measured once contracts are tendered.

Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Richard Jefferies, said outcomes under the current system were not good enough.

“Too many [young people] are leaving without the skills they need to live independently and sustain their own tenancies,” he said.

“This is about providing good homes with good support, and preparing young people for independence. We are also working closely with district councils to increase housing options, including affordable and private rented homes.”

Young people with lived experience of care have been involved throughout the development of the framework, taking part in workshops during the autumn and helping shape both the service model and its name.

They are also expected to be involved in selecting providers through a procurement process planned for early 2026.

The council has invited all existing providers, along with a wider range of voluntary and community sector organisations, to be part of the process as it moves towards implementation.

Providers will be invited to join an open framework under 10-year contracts, with the first phase of the new system expected to begin in July 2026.

Devon County Council says the changes are intended to reflect growing pressures on services, while ensuring vulnerable young people are better supported to move safely and sustainably into adulthood.