Turning 18 is often celebrated as a milestone. For many young people, it marks the beginning of greater independence while still having the reassurance of family support in the background.

For Care Leavers, however, adulthood can arrive very differently.

Alongside the excitement of new opportunities, turning 18 can mean adapting to new living arrangements, changes in professional support networks and increased financial responsibility, often all at the same time. These are challenges many of their peers will not face until much later in life.

As the Children in Care Coordinator at Weston College, I work with Children Looked After, including unaccompanied asylum seekers, and Care Leavers throughout their educational journey. My role involves working closely with curriculum colleagues, local authorities and external agencies to ensure care-experienced learners have access to the advice, opportunities and support they need to succeed.

One thing I have learned is that educational success is only part of the story. Before a Care Leaver can achieve their potential in the classroom, they often need support navigating significant life transitions outside of it.

When a young person leaves care, they may see long-standing professional relationships come to an end. A social worker who has supported them for years is replaced by a Leaving Care Personal Adviser. While this support remains available into adulthood, the loss of a trusted relationship can be challenging during an already uncertain period of change.

Housing can present another significant challenge. Some young people benefit from "Staying Put" arrangements, allowing them to remain with foster families beyond the age of 18. Others move from supported accommodation into more independent living. This often coincides with the loss of support from key workers and other trusted adults who may have provided structure and guidance for several years.

The consequences can be profound. Research from the National Youth Advocacy Service suggests around one in three Care Leavers experience homelessness within two years of leaving care.

Against that backdrop, education can easily become one challenge too many.

Many Care Leavers arrive in further education having already experienced significant disruption to their learning. Multiple school moves, gaps in education, lower attendance and reduced opportunities to participate in enrichment activities can all affect confidence and attainment. Over time, these experiences can create a belief that higher levels of education simply are not achievable.

Financial pressures add another layer of difficulty. While many young people continue to rely on family support through their late teens and early twenties, Care Leavers often begin managing rent, bills, transport costs and everyday living expenses much earlier. The need to balance work and study can place additional strain on learners who are already navigating major life changes.

There are also the less visible barriers.

Many care-experienced young people have lived through trauma, loss, instability or neglect. These experiences can affect confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing long after they enter education. Anxiety, low self-esteem and a lack of belonging can all influence attendance, engagement and progression.

When viewed collectively, it becomes easier to understand why Care Leavers remain significantly underrepresented in higher education and why many are at greater risk of becoming NEET, not in education, employment or training.

This is exactly why the role of educational institutions is so important.

At Weston College, we believe support should extend beyond the classroom. Earlier this year, we strengthened our commitment to care-experienced young people by signing the Care Leaver Covenant, reaffirming our dedication to creating opportunities that improve educational, employment and life outcomes for Care Leavers.

Our aim is not simply to help students complete a course. It is to create an environment where they feel safe, valued and able to build a future they can be proud of.

The impact of that approach can be remarkable.

One of our current Care Leavers joined Weston College through our ESOL provision. During his studies, staff recognised his interest in plumbing and created opportunities for him to explore the trade while continuing to develop his English skills. He has since progressed onto a Level 1 programme and is now pursuing a pathway that genuinely excites him.

What makes this achievement particularly significant is the timing. His progression took place while he was moving into post-18 accommodation and adjusting to a new support structure. Through collaboration across curriculum and support teams, he remained engaged in learning during a period that could easily have disrupted his education.

The result goes far beyond qualifications.

He has developed confidence, independence, aspirations and a stronger sense of belonging. That is the real power of education. It gives young people the opportunity to see possibilities for themselves that they may never have considered before.

As someone who is care experienced myself, that message resonates deeply.

At 16, I believed education was not for me. I left my A Levels, joined the British Army and followed a very different path. It was only several years later, after leaving the Army, that I returned to education through an Access course. That decision eventually led me to university and, ultimately, to a career supporting young people with experiences similar to my own.

My journey taught me that success is rarely a straight line.

To every Care Leaver who is uncertain about their next step, my advice is simple: remain open to opportunity. Whether it is a course, volunteering placement, work experience opportunity or extracurricular activity, every experience has the potential to open a door.

You may not always see where that door leads in the moment, but education remains one of the most powerful tools for creating choice, confidence and opportunity.

Sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity to change the direction of a life.