2025 Peer Evaluation Report: Young People Highlight the Power of Community and Connection

Posted 29th January 2026

The National House Project is delighted to announce the publication of the 2025 Peer Evaluation, a comprehensive study led by representatives from the Care Leavers National Movement (CLNM). Designed and delivered by young people, the evaluation shines a light on how Local House Projects (LHPs) are helping care-experienced young people build community, confidence and meaningful connections.

This year’s Peer Evaluation drew on 225 survey responses and 57 interviews, making it CLNM’s largest peer evaluation to date.

Key Findings

The findings paint a strongly positive picture of the Local House Project experience:

• Overwhelmingly positive experience of LHPs and their facilitators - Almost all young people (90%) would recommend their LHP to others. In the survey and interviews, young people consistently (95%) described facilitators as helpful and dependable, but some staff noted the emotional toll of the role and reflected on how support could be sustainable.
• Stronger mental and emotional well-being - Most young people (85%) said being part of their LHP improved their mental health, crediting regular check-ins and peer support. However, young people can still face challenges accessing mental health services.
• Progress in Safety Plan awareness - Compared to 2023, more young people (75%) have safety plans and are involved in shaping them. There is work to do to make this consistent across all LHPs.
• Growth in independent living skills - Nearly nine in ten young people reported improvements in managing their home and budgeting, though a few admitted they still feel unprepared for unexpected challenges like major repairs or sudden bills.
• Interdependence is inconsistently understood - Although many facilitators actively encourage peer connections and mutual support, it was clear from interviews that the understanding of the term interdependence is not uniform across LHPs. Some staff see interdependence as focusing on practical independence skills, while others define it narrowly as encouraging young people to ask for help.
• Varied awareness of their Local Offer - While some young people knew what they could access, others were unsure or confused, and a small number confused it with the Leaving Care Grant, suggesting communication needs to be clearer and more accessible within local authorities (LAs).
• A strong culture of peer support - Many young people frequently help others, fostering community spirit. Yet, some mentioned feeling they give more support than they receive.
• Barriers to asking for help remain - Reluctance to ask others for support is still common, particularly among those with negative past experiences in care, highlighting an area where change is needed to see asking for help as positive.

Young People’s Voices

Three quotes from the report capture the heart of this year’s evaluation:

A Peer-Led Approach That Drives Change

This evaluation was shaped and delivered by CLNM representatives using a Participatory Action Research approach, placing young people at the centre of the process, from survey design to analysis of findings. Their leadership ensures the report reflects real experiences and continues to drive improvements across the House Project community.

The full 2025 Peer Evaluation Report is available, offering detailed insights that will inform future developments within Local House Projects and help strengthen the national offer for care-experienced young people.

From Evaluation to Impact

This work doesn’t stop here. In 2026, CLNM will be working closely with NHP and LHPs to turn the findings and recommendations from this evaluation into meaningful action. Young people will remain at the centre of this work. CLNM representatives will continue to play a key role in shaping priorities, sharing learning, and holding systems to account to ensure changes are grounded in lived experience.

By building on the strong foundations highlighted in this Peer Evaluation, this next stage aims to strengthen community, deepen peer connections, and ensure that every young person involved in an LHP feels confident, supported and able to live interdependently.