Over 100 young people in care died in England in past year

More than 100 young people have died after leaving the care of social services in England in the past year, according to data released by the government.

In the year to April 2026 there were 106 reported deaths of care leavers. In the 12 months before there were 91. Most of those who died were aged 16 to 21.

The children and families minister, Josh MacAlister, described the high number of deaths of this group of young people as “a stain on our society”.

Although a requirement to report these deaths was introduced in 2023, ministers believe the true figure is probably higher.

Labour launched an urgent review into the deaths in April to try to identify where support systems may have failed. Announcing the review, the government said it was a “horrifying fact” that a disproportionate number of people who had been in care died young, often not having had appropriate support.

In 2025, 81,770 children in England were under the care of local authorities.

The latest deaths of young care leavers included transgender people, young women who gave birth and had their babies removed from them by social services, and young unaccompanied asylum seekers.

Many deaths were not a result of natural causes. Samare Gerezgihir, 23, from Eritrea and Issa Ali Musa Abdulrahman Barakat, 18, from Chad, were stabbed to death in 2024, and Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim, 16, an unaccompanied asylum seeker, was murdered in 2025.

Two-thirds of children and young people in the care system have been abused or neglected by their primary carer. Until December 2023 local authorities were not required to report deaths of care leavers. They must now report them through the serious incident notification system.

Benny Hunter, a co-founder and research lead at Da’aro Youth Project, which works with young unaccompanied asylum seekers and refugees mainly from eastern Africa and has documented some of their untimely deaths, said the figures were “unspeakably tragic”.

He said: “Following our intervention in 2021, the government agreed to start asking local authorities to tell them when a care leaver dies, so that they could start counting these deaths for the first time.

“Care leavers are some of the most vulnerable young people in society. At present, there is no process in place that would allow for lessons to be learned when a care leaver dies while in receipt of statutory support from a local authority. When a care leaver dies, the important questions about the circumstances of their life and the support they were receiving do not get asked.

“It is important that the government now takes action to ensure every care leaver death results in a statutory review and a properly informed inquest, so that lessons are always learned and future deaths may be prevented.”

MacAlister said: “We want vulnerable young people who have been in care to have enduring, loving relationships and more access to opportunities, but the number of care leavers dying far too early in life is a stain on our society.

“The true number of deaths is likely to be higher even than the recorded figures, and, in response, we have taken decisive action to address this and turn around the failing children’s social care system which we inherited.”

Evie’s story

Evie, a care leaver, died in June 2024 aged 19 after taking an overdose at her grandparents’ home. A review into her death last August found there could be a “cliff edge” in the transition between services for young people like her after they turn 18.

Although she had disclosed suicidal thoughts, there was declining adult safeguarding support for her. She had a traumatic and abusive relationship with her mother and as a teenager managed caring responsibilities for her mum, who later died, causing Evie enormous anxiety.

After telling some professionals about her suicidal thoughts, this information was not adequately communicated to others involved in her care. Her housing provider was not aware of safeguarding concerns or the care and support Evie needed.

Professionals who worked with her described her as a “wonderful, charismatic girl”. In a tribute after her death, friends and family said: “Best sister, best auntie, best friend, best daughter and best person. Evie you brought so much joy to people, not only those close to you.”