Lifelong Links is an innovative approach to supporting children and young people who are looked after away from their parents and their families. It was developed by the Family Rights Group to address concerns about how the family networks of children who are looked after can become fragmented, impacting upon their sense of belonging and identity. Lifelong Links works to identify and engage relatives and other supportive adults to increase the sense of security and wellbeing of the child or young person.

Lifelong Links is currently being trialed in three Scottish local authorities and seven English local authorities. Working collaboratively with colleagues from the Rees Centre (based at the University of Oxford) and the Family Rights Group, CELCIS has developed and conducted the evaluation of the Lifelong Links model in Scotland.

This briefing gives an update on learning so far.

The Lifelong Links evaluation will continue until March 2023, when CELCIS will publish its final project report.

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