‘Welsh Basic Income for Care Leavers Pilot: What are the needs, experiences and outcomes for minoritized groups?’

Summary

The Welsh Government’s Basic Income Pilot offers £1,600 per month for two years to all young people leaving state care who turn 18 between 1st July 2022 and 30th June 2023. A CASCADE-led evaluation of this high-profile initiative is on-going. If funded, this PhD study will complement the evaluation through consideration of impact of the pilot for specific sub-groups of young people. This will include disabled young people, LGBTQ+ young people, those belonging to minority ethnic groups and young people seeking asylum. Employing a mixed-method design, the studentship will encompass secondary analysis of existing routine and research data and the generation of new qualitative data.

Work stream one involves the analysis of data collected by the Welsh Government and further analysis of survey, focus group and interview data already collected by the evaluation team. This secondary analysis will explore any disparities of experience and outcomes for minority groups in areas such well-being, relationships, housing, education and employment. It will also analyse take-up rates of the Basic Income Pilot for different groups.

Work stream two will generate new qualitative data specifically related to minoritized groups. Focus groups with professionals including leaving care team managers and Young People’s Advisors will explore the needs and experiences of a range of minority groups in relation to basic income. Individual Version 1 December 2022 6.

Keywords:

Basic income, care leavers, transitions to adulthood, minority groups, secondary analysis.

Mixed methods interviews with young people will provide in-depth accounts about the experiences of the basic income pilot for young people from a minority group.

The studentship will generate original findings about minority groups’ experiences of this innovative policy that has attracted global attention. It will contribute to an understanding of how the Basic Income Pilot works, for whom and in what circumstances. This will have implications for policy development in the fields of cash transfer schemes and support for care leavers.