You can’t choose your family,
so that’s why we’re building one.
Adelphi is a UK social enterprise supporting care-experienced people through a free digital platform, national initiatives, trusted partnerships and professional services.
We work alongside local authorities, charities, education providers, employers and corporate partners to make practical support more accessible, strengthen services and create opportunities that empower people to thrive.
Through collaboration, education and advocacy, we promote positive inclusion, challenge perceptions of care experience and help ensure lived expertise is recognised as a strength in shaping better outcomes.
OUR STORY
Adelphi was founded by care-experienced leader Bethaney Dixon, whose own journey through the care system and into adulthood highlighted how difficult it can be to access practical support, trusted guidance and opportunities beyond formal services.
As both her personal and professional journey evolved, one thing became increasingly clear: while circumstances may change, many of the barriers faced by care-experienced people don't simply disappear with age. Finding the right information, navigating systems and building trusted networks can remain a challenge long into adulthood.
Adelphi was created to help bridge those gaps.
The name Adelphi comes from the Greek word meaning sibling or of the same womb. It reflects the type of support the organisation exists to provide; not parental or institutional, but alongside. Support that feels human, practical and rooted in shared understanding.
Today, Adelphi is a growing social enterprise supporting care-experienced people across the UK through a free digital platform, national initiatives, trusted partnerships and professional services. Alongside direct support, Adelphi works with organisations to strengthen systems, share lived expertise and create more accessible, joined-up opportunities.
At its heart, Adelphi believes that adulting shouldn't mean doing it alone. By bringing together people, partnerships and practical solutions, we're helping build a future where care-experienced people can access the support, opportunities and connections they need to thrive.
Why it Matters
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Every year, thousands of young people leave care in the UK - many stepping into adulthood long before their peers.
Within twelve months, one in three are not in education, employment or training (NEET), and one in four will experience homelessness or housing instability within two years.
The Prison Reform Trust reports that around a quarter of the adult prison population have spent time in care.Behind each of these statistics is a story of transition, resilience, and the urgent need for connection and opportunity.
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Beyond those early years, care-experienced adults aged 22–25 continue to face long-term barriers - from stable housing and employment to emotional wellbeing and financial security.
The National Audit Office (2023) links many of these challenges to gaps in early life-skills education and limited ongoing guidance.For many, independence arrives suddenly and without structure. Without consistent support, even small everyday tasks can feel overwhelming - not because of a lack of ability, but often because they’ve had to learn alone.
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The Barnardo’s “Neglected Minds” report found that 45% of children in care - and 72% in residential settings - experience a diagnosable mental health disorder, compared to 1 in 10 in the general population.
These figures reveal the depth of emotional need that often goes unseen, and the importance of stable, human-centred support that feels safe and familiar.
Because when guidance works - when it feels like family - everything changes.
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It’s important to recognise that official data from the Department for Education only represents care leavers who are still “in touch” with their Local Authority.
Thousands of others fall outside those figures - often due to trauma, loss of trust in authority, or simply the realities of surviving on their own.This is despite the work that any teams may be doing.
Many disengage not because they don’t want help, but because previous systems haven’t always felt safe, consistent, or understanding.
These numbers tell a story - but so do the successes that follow when support works.
With the right connection, the right knowledge and a sense of belonging- care-experienced young people achieve extraordinary things.
Adelphi exists to make that the rule, not the exception.
OUR VALUES
[ 01 ]
Supportive
Adelphi exists to make practical support more accessible for care-experienced people.
Through our digital platform, national initiatives, trusted partnerships and professional expertise, we connect people with guidance, opportunities and services that support greater confidence and independence.
We believe support shouldn't end because services do. That's why we're creating pathways that help people navigate adulthood with greater confidence.
[ 02 ]
Empowering
We believe lived experience and opportunity should go hand in hand.
By combining lived experience with professional expertise, we create practical solutions that remove barriers, build confidence and open doors to education, employment and independent living.
Whether through guidance, partnerships, training or consultancy, our focus is turning insight into meaningful, lasting impact.
[ 03 ]
Collaborative
Meaningful change happens when people work together.
We bring together care-experienced people, organisations and partners to create practical solutions that strengthen services and improve outcomes.
By connecting lived experience with leadership, innovation and collaboration, we're helping shape a future where support is more accessible, consistent and impactful.
What People Are Saying
“It was delightful to have met and heard from you about the fantastic service offered by Adelphi. I am amazed by the breadth of service and, as you so humbly stated, many of your initiatives are accessible nationwide.”
— kayon morris-johnson, reading borough council“You made me realise that care-experienced people really can achieve anything they set their minds to. You've turned my negative thoughts into positive ones.”
— Young person following an adelphi session“So glad this exists. I’m definitely going to print out the initiatives to share with my young people!”
— FJ, social worker, greenwich councilBecause adulting shouldn’t mean doing it alone.
OUR TEAM
Adelphi is guided by people who bring both lived experience and professional expertise into how support is designed, delivered, and governed.
(Click on their titles to learn more, we think you’ll find that they’re More Than A Label®)
BETHANEY DIXON
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Bethaney founded Adelphi by combining her lived experience of the care system with over a decade of experience across leadership, learning and development, business development and organisational improvement.
Today, she works with organisations across the UK through consultancy, training, keynote speaking and co-production, helping to strengthen people, practice and partnerships through organisational expertise alongside lived experience.
Alongside leading Adelphi, Bethaney is an Independent Fostering Panel Member across multiple fostering organisations, a Board Member of Corporate Jungle CIC, and has been featured in national and international media, podcasts and publications, contributing to conversations around care experience, leadership and positive organisational change.
To learn more about Bethaney's work with organisations, speaking engagements and consultancy services, visit our Professional Services page.
EVERTON SUTHERLAND-ADEBIYI
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Everton is a Youth Voice Champion with a strong passion for innovation, justice, law, and democracy, driven by the belief that every child and young person deserves to thrive, be seen, and be heard.
As Founding Advisor at Adelphi, Everton provides occasional strategic insight and acts as a trusted sounding board, offering perspective on lived experience, co-production, and inclusive service design where appropriate.
His experience includes public sector leadership in youth participation, advising senior leaders, working with police and probation, training and upskilling professionals, police scrutiny and advisory roles, and system-change work within children's services. Everton is currently studying a Master's in Law as part of his long-term legal journey to strengthen rights-based and child-centred practice.
TRUSTED BY:
Every relationship is different, but each reflects a shared commitment to providing support that creates positive impact. We're proud to be trusted by organisations through partnerships, governance, consultancy, speaking engagements and wider professional engagement.
EXPLORE MORE WITH ADELPHI: Discover our other initiatives, free digital platform, trusted partnerships and professional services supporting care-experienced people across the UK.