NHS: A Universal Embrace Within the bustling halls of an NHS hospital in Birmingham, a young man named James Stokes moves with quiet purpose. His oxford shoes move with deliberate precision as he acknowledges colleagues—some by name, others with the universal currency of a "how are you." James displays his credentials not merely as institutional identification but as a declaration of inclusion. It hangs against a pressed shirt that offers no clue of the challenging road that brought him here. What sets apart James from many of his colleagues is not immediately apparent. His bearing gives away nothing of the fact that he was among the first participants of the NHS Universal Family Programme—an undertaking designed specifically for young people who have spent time in care. "I found genuine support within the NHS structure," James says, his voice controlled but revealing subtle passion. His observation summarizes the core of a programme that seeks to revolutionize how the enormous healthcare system perceives care leavers—those vulnerable young people aged 16-25 who have emerged from the care system. The numbers tell a troubling story. Care leavers frequently encounter greater psychological challenges, financial instability, shelter insecurities, and diminished educational achievements compared to their contemporaries. Beneath these impersonal figures are human stories of young people who have traversed a system that, despite good efforts, often falls short in offering the stable base that forms most young lives. The NHS Universal Family Programme, launched in January 2023 following NHS England's commitment to the Care Leaver Covenant, represents a significant change in organizational perspective. Fundamentally, it accepts that the complete state and civil society should function as a "universal family" for those who have missed out on the stability of a traditional family setting.