Innovative and ambitious or unrealistic and risky? Initial professional perspectives on the Basic Income for Care Leavers in Wales pilot

Roberts, Louise ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6154-3549, Holland, Sally ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7600-3855, Westlake, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7507-3413, Mathur, Vibhor, Lloyd, Harriet, Bezeczky, Zoe, J, Ablitt, Hick, Rod ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1218-0809, Johnson, Matthew T. and Sanders, Michael 2025. Innovative and ambitious or unrealistic and risky? Initial professional perspectives on the Basic Income for Care Leavers in Wales pilot. The British Journal of Social Work Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

In 2022 the Welsh Government announced a basic income pilot for young people leaving care. Costing £20 million, the pilot aims to reduce disadvantage and strengthen support for young people during their transition to adulthood (Welsh Government 2022a). Despite these aspirations, the pilot has proved controversial, dividing public and political opinion (BBC, 2023; Masters 2022; Lister 2024; Thomas 2022; Reuters 2024). Debates about whether the pilot represents good use of public money have focused on eligibility for the pilot, the amount of money provided and the unconditional nature of the provision. In addition, an inquiry by the Welsh Parliament’s Children, Young People and Education Committee, undertaken in the recruitment phase of the pilot, suggested some mixed professional and young people views. Whilst described as a ‘bold and ambitious policy’, the report noted some concern about potential harms (Welsh Parliament 2023: 133).

Item Type:	Article
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Research Institutes & Centres > Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE)
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	0045-3102
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 June 2025
Date of Acceptance:	19 May 2025
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2025 10:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/178804

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