Highlights from the new PAC research

New research led by Pure Insight's Peer Action Collective (PAC) team has revealed how relationships with adults, services and peers can influence care-experienced young people's vulnerability to violence and exploitation.

Pure Insight's peer researchers, who have lived experience of the care system themselves, spoke to 66 young people across Cheshire and Greater Manchester to explore their relationships with the adults and services in their lives, and how these shape their experiences of peer violence.

The research highlights a powerful message: too often, decisions about young people in care are made without their voices being heard.

Eight key themes emerge

The research identified eight key themes, including the impact of inconsistent support, loneliness, early criminalisation, gaps in mental health provision and the challenges young people face when leaving care.

Many participants described feeling unheard, struggling to build trusting relationships and experiencing a sudden reduction in support as they moved towards independence.

However, the findings also demonstrate the significant difference that positive relationships can make. Young people consistently valued adults who were honest, reliable, caring and non-judgemental.

One participant described the impact of their Pure Insight wellbeing worker:

"There's never been a day where she's never believed in me... where she hasn't tried to uplift me if things are down."

Turning research into action

What makes this research particularly important is that it has been led by young people with lived experience of care. By putting their voices at the centre, the PAC programme ensures young people are not only identifying the challenges but also helping to shape the solutions.

The findings will inform further research and social action focused on building healthy relationships, reducing early criminalisation and improving mental health and trauma-informed support.

Throughout Care Leavers' Month this November, we'll be sharing each of the eight themes in more detail, highlighting the experiences of young people and the changes needed to better support them.

A huge thank you to every young person who shared their experiences and to our incredible peer researchers for leading this important work.