Transition and Life Chances

All too often, people’s experiences and overall life chances are eroded as the result of major change associated with a move from one kind of service/support to another, often on the basis of age (e.g. child-adult, adult-older age); or following major life events (e.g. bereavement, sudden disability or ill health, leaving or moving home, moving into or out of residential care).

We work with local authorities and their partners to better understand and respond to the needs and aspirations of people who need support throughout their lives; and who have become, or are at risk of becoming, disconnected from family, friends, communities & opportunities as a result of these transitions.

In addition to specific pieces of work commissioned by local organisations or as part of broader initiatives (e.g. early intervention and prevention pilots) we capture important learning about what works in relation to this critical theme from all of our work. For example, circles of support – described under Person Centred Approaches - can increase people’s connections to family, friends and communities as a support mechanism at times of crisis and to facilitate good decision making in the face of major change; the Inclusion Web can help identify the people and places in someone’s life and how these change over time. These examples and specific tools and interventions that can help at particular stages, ages and circumstances can be accessed from the publications and resources pages.

Examples of our work on transition and life chances include:

• National evaluation of the pre retirement health initiative, resulting in the Gap Years report on supporting people in mid life to increase their health, wellbeing and inclusion in paid and non paid work
• Making a difference through volunteering: research into the nature and impact of volunteer support for people in transition from hospital to home
• Increasing the voice, choice and control of older people at risk of moving into residential care (JRF - Older people's vision for long-term care)
• Developing best practice in transition for young people with learning disabilities (Pathways to Getting a Life)

The National Transition Support Programme

The government's Transition Support Programme, aims to raise the standards of transition to adulthood for disabled children in all local areas. For more information, go to the TSP website.