Over 1,000 young people were supported by Llamau’s floating support services
Over 600 young people at risk of homelessness were supported through Llamau's supported accommodation across Wales
Over 200 young people were supported through Llamau's Learning, Training and Employment programmes with Education at Llamau
97% of people reported feeling safer following Llamau's support
96% of people reported an improved quality of life following our support
95% of people reported our support had a positive impact on their lives
Contents
Welcome
Welcome to Llamau's Impact Report for 2025-26.
As we mark 40 years of Llamau, this report provides an opportunity to reflect on the impact achieved during the past year while recognising the contribution of everyone who has helped shape our journey over the last four decades.
Forty years ago, a small group of people in south Wales saw young people with nowhere safe to go and decided to do something about it. They challenged the status quo, persuaded others to act and, in doing so, laid the foundations for what would become Llamau.
I often say that whilst much has changed since those early days, our purpose has not. We still exist to stand alongside young people, women and children facing some of life's toughest challenges, and to work towards a Wales where no one experiences homelessness.
As you read this report, I hope you will feel proud of what has been achieved over the last year. More than 20,000 young people, women and children were reached by Llamau's services during 2025-26. Behind that figure are thousands of individual stories of courage, resilience and hope. There are young people who remained safely at home instead of becoming homeless, women and children who found safety after experiencing abuse, and people who were supported to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.
This year feels particularly significant because it gives us the chance to look not only at the last 12 months, but at the last 40 years. From a small local project to one of Wales' largest charities, Llamau has always sought to do more than respond to immediate need. We have challenged, innovated and often led the way in developing services that better support the people who need us most.
There is a great deal to be proud of in our first 40 years. But if our mission is to end homelessness for young people and women in Wales, we know our work is far from finished. The need remains as urgent as ever.
What gives me confidence for the future is what you will see throughout this report: extraordinary colleagues, partners, volunteers, and supporters continuing to make a real difference every single day. Together, we have changed thousands of lives. Together, we will continue working towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to live safely, realise their potential and achieve their hopes and dreams.
Sam Austin
Chief Executive Officer
40 years of improving lives
2026 marks 40 years of improving lives for over 180,000 young people, women and children across Wales.
Ella's Story
From 17, Ella received support from Llamau with housing, education and mentoring.
“It doesn’t matter where you are in life right now, it is a journey, and you will get where you need to eventually."
Ella
More stories
Ann experienced Domestic Abuse in the form of Coercive Control for over 30 years. Her story highlights the diverse nature of domestic abuse and just how important it is to get expert help and support.
Whilst living in Llamau’s supported accommodation Owyn has benefitted from ongoing practical and emotional support to help him develop his independence and prepare for his future goals.
Llamau runs the Wales Youth Homelessness Helpline with volunteers like Josh. The helpline is often the first point of contact for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
These stories are just a snapshot of the lives we've supported this year. Read more stories from people who have received support from Llamau.
Developments and growth
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Llamau strengthens support for women and children through Cardiff Women’s Aid merger
In April 2025, Llamau took an important step forward in strengthening support for women and children affected by domestic abuse through the merger of Cardiff Women’s Aid with Llamau. Building on a trusted partnership spanning more than 20 years, we became the lead partner for the Cardiff RISE domestic abuse service, working alongside Bawso.
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Our Registered Children's Homes: Recognition for quality care
During 2025-26, Llamau's commitment to providing high-quality support for care-experienced young people was recognised through the first Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) inspection of our Vale of Glamorgan Children's Home. The home received Excellent ratings for Care and Support, Leadership and Management, and Wellbeing.
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Supporting Young People Seeking Sanctuary
During 2025-26 expanded its services to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable young people in Wales through the launch of our first supported accommodation service specifically for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) in the Vale of Glamorgan.
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Youth Homelessness Helpline
Llamau’s Youth Homelessness Helpline continued to provide vital out-of-hours support for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Staffed entirely by volunteers since December 2024, the helpline operates through the night and at weekends, ensuring young people can access support when many other services are unavailable.
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Upstream Cymru: Wales leading the way
Since launching Upstream Cymru in 2020, Llamau has led the development, innovation and growth of the model across Wales and beyond. Working alongside Cardiff University, local authorities, youth services and schools, we developed the first programme of its kind in Wales, the UK and Europe. Since then, more than 22,000 young people have been surveyed through Upstream, including 9,388 in Wales, providing invaluable insight into the early warning signs associated with family breakdown and homelessness.
Follow this link to read more of our latest news.
In 2025-26, more than 12,000 households in Wales were assessed as homeless and owed a duty of assistance, while over 6,000 households were living in temporary accommodation. Although homelessness was successfully prevented in many cases, demand on public services continues to grow. By intervening early and helping people resolve difficulties before they reach crisis point, Llamau supports this preventative approach and reduces the personal and financial costs associated with homelessness.
Through our family mediation, early intervention and prevention services, we help young people remain safely at home wherever possible, improving outcomes for families while avoiding the significant costs associated with homelessness and supported accommodation.
During the year, the programme surveyed over 2,500 pupils and identified almost 200 young people at immediate or high risk of homelessness. Significantly, many of these young people were still attending school regularly, highlighting how easily vulnerability can remain hidden. By identifying risk at the earliest opportunity and working with young people and their families, Upstream Cymru helps improve life chances while reducing future demand on housing, health, education and social care services.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are estimated to cost Wales £2.2 billion annually through increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity and greater demand on public services. Through our psychologically and trauma-informed services, we help people recover from trauma, improve wellbeing and develop the resilience needed to thrive.
By preventing homelessness, supporting recovery from abuse and trauma, and helping people build independence, we create lasting social value while reducing future demand on public services.
How we spend our money
87.9% of our income goes directly into delivering services for women, young people, and children across Wales. Just 0.3% is spent on Governance, while 1.9% goes towards Fundraising.
Explore our spending by interacting with the chart, hover over each section of the key or the chart to view detailed information.
Thank you
As we mark 40 years of Llamau, we want to recognise the thousands of people who have made our impact possible.
Since 1986, colleagues, volunteers, trustees, funders, partners and supporters have come together around a shared belief that every young person, woman and child deserves safety, opportunity and the chance to fulfil their potential. Together, they have helped shape Llamau from a small local project into one of Wales' largest charities, supporting more than 170,000 people across Wales.
Over the past four decades, Llamau has pioneered new approaches, challenged injustice, developed services where they did not exist before and stood alongside people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. None of this would have been possible without the dedication, compassion and determination of the people who have been part of our journey.
Most importantly, thank you to the young people, women and children who have trusted us to walk alongside them. Your courage, resilience and determination continue to inspire everything we do.
As we look back on our first 40 years, there is much to be proud of. However, our mission remains unchanged, and our work is far from complete. The need for Llamau remains as urgent today as it was when we first began.
To everyone who has been part of that journey, whether for four decades or four days, thank you. Your commitment, kindness and belief in the people we support continues to make a lasting difference.
The impact within these pages is your impact too.