What is Lifelong Links?
Lifelong Links is a service for young people who are in care or leaving care. It helps you find and reconnect with people who care about you, including family members, friends, or others who have been important in your life.
This could include relatives you have lost contact with or people you may never have met before.
How can Lifelong Links help?
Lifelong Links can support you to:
- Reconnect with grandparents, siblings, cousins, or extended family
- Get back in touch with friends, former carers, or trusted professionals
- Build a stronger support network
- Learn more about your family history and identity
A Lifelong Links facilitator will work with you to find these important people and explore how they can support you now and in the future.
How does Lifelong Links work?
- A facilitator will spend time getting to know you and who matters to you
- They will search for and safely make contact with people in your network
- With your agreement, they may bring everyone together in a Family Group Conference
This meeting allows your family and support network to create a plan to support you – helping provide stability while you are in care and as you move towards independent living.
Taking part in Lifelong Links is your choice, and you can change your mind at any time.
How to take part
To access Lifelong Links, speak to your:
- Social worker
- Carer
- Personal adviser
Email: lifelonglinks@manchester.gov.uk