Find your account

Long-term savings accounts for young people in care & care leavers

Money for your future

If you're a young person in care or a care leaver, there is some good news.

The Government has set aside money for you in a special savings account called a Junior ISA or a Child Trust Fund. This money belongs to you and is there to help give you a stronger start when you become an adult.

At The Share Foundation, we're here to help you understand your account, learn about money, and make the most of the opportunities available to you.

If you are 16+ you can fill out the form and use our FREE service to start the journey to locating your account today.

If you think you have a JISA

Take control of your Junior ISA

If you think you have a CTF

Take control of your CTF

What is a Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund?

A Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund is a long-term savings account set up for eligible young people in care.

Once a young person has been in care for 12 months or more continually, The Government contributes money to open the Junior ISA account or you may already have a Child Trust Fund.

In some cases additional contributions may be added over time by your local authority or fostering networks. The money remains safely invested until you turn 18, when it becomes available to you.

Think of it as a financial stepping stone into adulthood, money that can help support your future plans, whether that's education, training, housing, travel, starting work, or something else that's important to you.

How we support you

Our role is about much more than managing an account. We help by:

Making sure your account is opened and looked after properly.

Providing information about your savings and how they work.

Helping you learn about money and financial decision-making.

Raising additional funds and opportunities through life skills programmes.

Supporting you to access and understand your account as you get older.

Choose the section that's right for you

  • This is a great time to start learning about money and future goals. You don't need to make any decisions about your account yet, but you can begin to understand how saving and investing can help you in the future. If you are currently in care you can start adding to your account by taking part in our life skills programmes.

    Q&A

    Who decides how my money is invested? Experts manage the investments. From age 16, you can start to have a say.

    When can I get the money? You can access it when you turn 18. Before then, it stays safely saved for you.

    Can anyone else take my money? No. Only you can access it when you’re 18.

    How do I see how much I have? Your local authority holds your statements. You can ask them (or your carer) to share your balance with you.

    Can I talk to someone about my account? Yes. Ask your carer or social worker to contact The Share Foundation for you.

  • As you get closer to adulthood, you'll be able to find out more about your account and take a more active interest in it.

    From age 16, you can take control over your account by becoming the registered contact and begin making decisions about how it is managed, you can only withdraw the money when you turn 18.

    You can also take part in our life-skills programmes, designed to help you prepare for the next stage of your life.

    Q&A

    When can I get the money? You can access it when you turn 18. Until then, it stays safely invested for you.

    What changes when I’m 16? You can take more control of your account.
    This includes choosing how your money is invested.You can also change provider, but if they don’t work with The Share Foundation, we may not be able to add extra contributions.

    Who decides how my money is invested? You can start making your own choices from 16. Before that, investments are guided by independent financial advice.

    Can I add my own money? Yes. You can pay your own money in to help it grow. If you want to do this, ask your local authority contact so we can set up a way for you to make payments.

    How do I check how much money I have? Your local authority gets regular updates on your account, you can ask them for your balance or statements. You can also request to receive them directly.

    Can I get help understanding my money? Yes. You can access our life skills programmes to support you and help you feel more confident for adulthood.

  • When you turn 18, the money becomes yours to access and you can decide what happens next. You might choose to use it, save it, or continue investing for the future. Whatever you decide, we want you to feel confident and informed when making those choices.

    Find out more details and get your questions answered on our Action for 18+ page.

At The Share Foundation, we believe that every young person deserves the chance to build a positive future.

Your Junior ISA or Child Trust Fund is more than a savings account. It's an opportunity.
Combined with the right support, guidance and life skills, it can help you take your next steps with greater confidence.

Contact us

We're here to help you make the most of it, if you have any questions contact our friendly team at 01296 310400 or please email info@sharefound.org.