About us

Our aim is to enable young people to leave care at 18 years old with both the material resources and the knowledge to achieve their potential. Since we were established in February 2005, we've been working with the Government’s two investment initiatives for young people: the Child Trust Fund and the Junior ISA.

Between 2005 and 2010 we've made additional contributions to Child Trust Funds: since 2012 we’ve been appointed by the Department for Education to establish Junior ISAs for all children and young people who’ve been in care continuously for over one year, and who do not have a Child Trust Fund. There’s an initial £200 from the Government to open each account.

In 2017 responsibility for the administration of Child Trust Funds for young people in care without a 'responsible adult' was transferred to The Share Foundation from the Official Solicitor/Accountant of Court.

One of our tasks is to raise additional money to build these account into a worthwhile starter for adult life, and we welcome donations in that respect: these can be restricted to particular regions across the United Kingdom.

We also operate a UK-wide life skills training programme for young people in care on an 'incentivised learning basis. This six-step programme is called 'Stepladder Plus', and young people in care aged 15-17 who have Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund accounts under the DfE schemes can earn up to £1,500. Research shows that this achieves an attitudinal transformation for young people as they progress through the steps, significantly reducing their risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training as an adult care leaver.