Government adopts National House Project's approach in new Staying Close programme
Posted 14th September 2026
The National House Project (NHP), a charity that has spent almost a decade developing a proven model for supporting young people leaving care, has had its approach built into the Department for Education's revised Staying Close programme.
NHP currently works with 22 local authorities across England and Scotland, and its House Project community includes 1,180 young people aged 17–28, of whom 780 have moved into their first home with no evictions or tenancy breakdowns.
The announcement comes alongside a £25 million investment this year to expand connected housing options for care leavers across the country. The Government has specifically identified the National House Project alongside other innovative approaches as part of the expansion.
The move follows the publication of the Government-commissioned independent review into the early deaths of young people who have left care. The review highlights the profound isolation experienced by some care leavers and identifies the need to improve preparation for adulthood, address the sharp drop in support after leaving care, and strengthen the workforce supporting young people through this transition.
Ashley John-Baptiste (coauthor of the Review of care Leaver Deaths) and Josh MacAlister (Minister for Children and Families) visited the Islington Local House Project prior to the announcements and met young people to see first-hand how the approach supports young people to build relationships, develop independence and move into their own homes.
Mark Warr, Chief Executive of the National House Project, said:
“For young people leaving care, having a home is vital — but a home on its own is not enough. Young people need people around them who know them, relationships that matter and the skills, confidence and support to build a fulfilling adult life.
“For more than a decade, the National House Project has worked alongside young people and local authorities to develop an approach that brings these things together. The Government’s recognition of the model within the national expansion of Staying Close is an important step towards making that opportunity available to many more young people.
“The challenge now is to turn that recognition into national scale, while keeping young people’s voices and relationships at the heart of how the approach is delivered.”
