Care leavers die at four times general population rate
A government review finds 112 care leavers aged 18 to 24 died in 2025, a rate almost four times higher than the general population, with many dying by suicide.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A government-commissioned review has found that young people leaving the care system in England are dying at almost four times the rate of the general population. The review, published today, recorded 112 deaths of care leavers aged 18 to 24 in 2025, with more than a third believed to have taken their own lives. It describes the situation as a national tragedy and warns that the drop-off in support, known as the 'care cliff', must be addressed.
The review highlights the case of Joash McCulloch, an autistic teenager who was placed in care at 14 and died shortly after his 18th birthday. His parents say he was moved hundreds of miles from home, placed in a series of placements, and lost vital support when he turned 18. They describe a system that left him isolated and without a safety net. Another case is Jamie Whitworth, who spent most of his childhood in care and died at 25 after being placed in a hotel room with no welfare checks. His aunt says he was let down by a system that failed to provide adequate mental health support.
The review found that 22 of the 112 deaths were 18-year-olds, the highest number in the age range, and that 40 likely died by suicide, a rate potentially five times higher than the general population. It also found that four in ten children in care are placed outside their own local authority area, often far from family and friends, which contributes to isolation.
The government has pledged £25 million for housing support and a named adult to stay in touch with care leavers up to age 25. Children's Minister Josh McAllister called the situation a 'stain on society' and said the system is being reset with £2.4 billion. However, campaigners and care leavers argue that more needs to be done, including addressing the privatisation of children's homes and the shortage of foster carers. The review calls for a complete overhaul of the support system for care leavers as they reach adulthood, and for better training for staff working with them.
The broadcaster Ashley John-Baptiste, who grew up in care and co-authored the review, said the findings should be a wake-up call. He stressed that young people leaving care are often not ready for the level of independence expected of them, and that support should be available for much longer. The government says it is committed to reform, but critics say the funding announced so far is nowhere near enough to fix a system that is 'frankly broken'.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 112 care leavers aged 18 to 24 died in 2025. | ||||||
| Just over a third of those deaths were suicides. | ||||||
| The government announced £25 million for housing support over the next 12 months. | · | · | ||||
| Support for care leavers falls away sharply at age 18. | · | · | · | |||
| 22 of the deaths were of 18-year-olds | · | · | · | · | ||
| A review found that suicide was the cause of death in most care leaver deaths. | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Four in ten children in care in England are placed outside their local authority area. | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Joash was discharged from hospital after a suicide attempt without a psych review | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Joash was moved to Rotherham and then Milton Keynes due to lack of local placements | · | · | · | · | · | |
| Joash was placed in a solo children's home in South Yorkshire, nearly 200 miles from home. | · | · | · | · | · | |
| The government is putting £2.4 billion extra into children's social care. | · | · | · | · | · | |
| The report described the care leaver deaths as a national tragedy. | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This segment focused on the personal story of Joash McCulloch, a care leaver who died shortly after his 18th birthday. It highlighted the family's decade-long struggle to get help, the placement far from home, and the sudden loss of support at 18. The tone was emotional and humanised the statistics.
- “Young people leaving the care system in England are dying at almost four times the rate of the general population.”
- “A government review has found 112 care leavers died aged 18 to 24 in 2025.”
- “It's a familiar story. Government figures show that four in ten children in care in England are placed outside of their own local authority area.”
This segment combined the Joash McCulloch story with analysis from correspondent Nick Martin and an interview with Children's Minister Josh McAllister. It emphasised the need for government action and questioned whether funding is sufficient, framing the issue as a systemic failure requiring a long-term solution.
- “The government wanted to hold this review because it was concerned that care leaver deaths were rising”
- “the government needs to put its money where its mouth is”
- “in 2024 there were 90 care leavers died. That's just two a week. This year it's 112.”
This was a very brief bulletin item that simply reported the key statistic and the government's description of it as a national tragedy. It did not include personal stories or analysis, focusing on the headline numbers.
- “A government-commissioned report has branded it a national tragedy.”
- “More than 100 deaths of care leavers aged 18 to 24 were recorded last year.”
This segment featured the story of Jamie Whitworth, a care leaver who died at 25, and included analysis from social affairs correspondent Sarah Caulker. It highlighted the 'care cliff' and the government's £25 million pledge, but questioned whether it is enough. The tone was critical of the system's failures.
- “Children who grow up in the care system are much more at risk of an early death”
- “the drop-off in support, the so-called care cliff, must be addressed.”
- “22 of those people died at the age of 18 and 40 are thought to have died by suicide.”
This was an extended version of the Joash McCulloch story, with more family footage and detail. It focused on the emotional impact of the 'care cliff' and the isolation experienced by care leavers. The tone was deeply personal and highlighted the systemic failures that led to his death.
- “Young people leaving the care system in England are dying at almost four times the rate of the general population”
- “the entire weight of everything that social services had done with him was all focused towards what are you going to do when you turn 18.”
- “He came off the ADHD medication he'd taken since he was five.”
This segment included an interview with Ashley John-Baptiste, co-author of the review, who shared his own experience of the care system. It focused on the human cost of the statistics and the need for a fundamental overhaul. The tone was passionate and called for action.
- “That's 112 lives lost. You shouldn't roll that off the tongue.”
- “Isolation was a key thing.”
- “the care system perpetually is kicking their children out at 18 years old.”
This report featured care leavers Hayden and Henrietta, and the story of Jamie Whitworth. It emphasised the systemic failures, the 'care cliff', and the government's response. The tone was factual but highlighted the emotional impact on families.
- “Young people leaving care in England are about four times more likely to die young”
- “The care system at 18 feels like a care cliff.”
- “The report commissioned by the government found last year a hundred and twelve care leavers aged between 18 and 24 Died more than a third took their own lives”
This is the signed version of the BBC News report, identical in content to the BBC ONE West report. It focused on the same personal stories and systemic issues, with the same factual tone.
- “Young people leaving care in England are about four times more likely to die young”
- “The care system at 18 feels like a care cliff.”
- “The report commissioned by the government found last year a hundred and twelve care leavers aged between 18 and 24 Died more than a third took their own lives”
This was a special report focusing on Jamie Whitworth's story and a housing project in north London that supports care leavers. It highlighted the 'care cliff' and the government's pledge, but also showed a positive model. The tone was investigative and empathetic.
- “Children who grow up in the care system are at a much higher risk of an early death”
- “the drop-off in support the so-called care cliff must be addressed.”
- “36 percent of those who died took their own lives.”
This segment included an interview with Children's Minister Josh McAllister and a discussion with care leavers Chris Wild and Louisa Foyle. It focused on the systemic problems, including privatisation and the 'care cliff', and questioned whether the government's response is sufficient. The tone was critical and called for urgent action.
- “Young care leavers in England are dying at a far higher rate than other people in their age group”
- “It's money before care.”
- “112 care leaver deaths were recorded in the 18 to 24 age group in 2025”
This is a repeat of the BBC News report, with the same content and tone. It focused on the personal stories and the government's response, with no additional analysis.
- “Young people leaving care in England are about four times more likely to die young”
- “The care system at 18 feels like a care cliff.”
- “The report commissioned by the government found last year a hundred and twelve care leavers aged between 18 and 24 Died more than a third took their own lives”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.