The move has been taken as such relationships often break down when children move into or within the care system.
Through the investment 12 more councils, including those in Brighton and Hove, Salford, Gateshead and Wiltshire, will access the charity Family Rights Group’s Lifelong Links programme.
This uses coordinators to work with children to find and reunite them with family members, former carers or teachers, and friends.
In addition, 11 existing providers of the programme, including Birmingham Children’s Trust, Oxfordshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council, will also share the funding.
The DfE investment takes the total number of local authorities accessing the programme to 42.
However, Family Rights Group chief executive Cathy Ashley says many young people across England are still missing out on the support, despite 2022’s Independent Review of Children’s Social Care calling on all councils to ensure that “no young person should leave care without at least two loving relationships”.
“Lifelong Links is transforming lives for children in care,” she said.
“It is increasing the number of people they can turn to, improving their mental health and sense of identity, and reducing the chance of becoming homeless.
“These and other impacts reduce councils’ social care costs by bringing down the demands on social care teams, meaning that the programme more than pays for itself.”
Evaluation of the scheme’s use by Hertfordshire County Council found it had avoided more than £800,000 in costs. Other evaluation of the programme found four in five children taking part reported “an improved sense of identity”.
Coventry City Council is another existing provider to also share the DfE’s funding.
Matt Clayton, the council’s strategic lead for children in care, children with disabilities and care leavers said: “Far too often the care system damages or breaks relationships instead of repairing or maintaining them.
“Lifelong Links allows for something really different where children and young people in care are supported to build a loving network of support which will remain with them throughout adulthood.
“We all know that relationships matter and Lifelong Links allows the most important relationships for children and young people to be nurtured and supported.”
