Every year, thousands of young people leave the care system in England and begin adult life without the lasting family relationships and support networks that many others take for granted. But many people who are care-experienced have developed enduring bonds, for example, with their foster carers, a teacher or a mentor.
There is currently no way of honouring and celebrating those enduring relationships. The government has been working with leaders from a wide range of faith communities to develop a new Lifelong Guardianship Ceremony as a way of publicly recognising and celebrating those relationships for care-experienced people.
The ceremonies will help to give them a sense of connection, belonging and enduring support. Here's everything you need to know about what these ceremonies are, who they're for, and how you will be able to arrange one.
What is a Lifelong Guardianship Ceremony?
A Lifelong Guardianship Ceremony is a meaningful, flexible ceremony that publicly affirms a chosen relationship between a care-experienced adult and one or more significant person in their life.
That could be a former foster carer, a mentor, a member of a faith community, a friend, or a wider family figure.
The ceremony celebrates commitment, belonging and enduring support. It can be faith-based, secular, community-led, or entirely bespoke, and can take place in a place of worship, a civic venue, a home, a garden, or any other meaningful location.
Importantly, it is a relational ceremony, not a legal one. It does not create legal guardianship, transfer parental responsibility, or replace any existing statutory support.
Who is it for?
The new framework offers practical guidance and support for people interested in a Lifelong Guardianship Ceremony. It is aimed at care-experienced adults aged 18 and over, as well organisations and communities who might host or lead a ceremony.
It recognises that meaningful, life-shaping relationships can come from many different sources, including fostering, kinship care, residential care, mentoring, youth work, faith communities, extended family, friendships, teachers and beyond.
A ceremony might involve:
- a care-experienced adult and one significant adult
- a care-experienced adult and a couple or family
- a care-experienced adult and several supportive adults
- a care-experienced adult and a wider community
What does a ceremony actually look like?
There will be no single prescribed format — that's intentional. The framework is designed to be flexible and adaptable across different faith, belief, cultural and secular contexts. Possible elements include:
- A welcome and gathering — opening words, introductions, music or prayer
- Sharing the story of the relationship — through personal reflections, testimony, photographs, readings or contributions from friends and family
- Prayer, reflection or reading — from scripture, poetry, music or other traditions
- Statements of commitment — where participants express their gratitude, hopes and ongoing support for each other
- A symbolic act — such as lighting a candle, planting a tree, exchanging letters, signing a certificate or sharing a meal
- Community affirmation — where those gathered are invited to publicly affirm their support
- A closing blessing or celebration
We are talking to a wide range of different faith traditions — including Humanist, Jewish, evangelical Christian and Unitarian. The framework includes illustrations of how different communities might adapt the format to suit their own traditions and contexts.
Who organises and pays for a ceremony?
Ceremonies are intended to be community-led rather than centrally administered. The responsibility for organising and financing a ceremony would ordinarily sit with the individuals involved, their significant adults, faith or belief communities, or other organisations. The framework does not envisage ceremonies being funded by central government or local authorities.
Safeguarding is central to the framework. A ceremony should only go ahead where the relationship is safe, voluntary, emotionally appropriate and entirely free from coercion or exploitation. All participants must give informed consent and have a clear understanding of what the ceremony is before it can go ahead.
Where can I find out more?
The Lifelong Guardianship Ceremony framework — including detailed guidance for officiants, example ceremonies from faith and belief groups, and information on how to endorse the framework — is available here and also on the Home for Good Website.
If you are a care-experienced adult with a Personal Adviser you may wish to speak to them about whether a Lifelong Guardianship Ceremony could be right for you and the people in your life. Alternatively, you could contact Home for Good to discuss what is involved.
Does it create any legal obligations?
No. Participation will be entirely voluntary, and the ceremony will not create any legal status or formal obligations. Its purpose is relational and symbolic — to recognise and celebrate a relationship that already carries deep personal and communal significance, and to give it public affirmation.
Everyone taking part should understand this clearly before proceeding. The ceremony is about belonging and commitment, not contracts.