#KeepCaringTo18 – Pioneer group statement

I’m part of the #KeepCaringTo18 campaign because…

We believe that the Care System should care, truly care, about the young people it is supposed to look after. Simply providing accommodation is not enough; young people should have the support they need to thrive, not simply survive.

We know that these years are formative. For your own children they may be looking to their next steps in achieving their aspirations. You may be looking through prospectuses, or reading their job applications. Maybe it’s being the person who calls the doctor for them, or just being there for a hug to comfort them. Why shouldn’t a Care Experienced child have that same care?

Too often we have seen the most vulnerable young people fall through the gaps, and seek some form of care or acceptance wherever they find it. We know that this human desire to be cared for can be abused – by toxic partners, by gangs out to exploit our young people. To fail to provide this support net for our young people is unconscionable, and the consequences unfortunately too clear to see. In failing to care for young people for those 2 years, we risk them experiencing a lifetime of harm. The many consequences of this harm, including long-term psychological harm, can be avoided by simply fulfilling our duty to care for our young people.

As SafeLives Pioneers, we see too clearly how Care Experienced people fall prey to abusers. Our mission is to end Domestic Abuse, and to do this we must make sure through all possible channels, including changes to the law, that our young people are treated with compassion and given all possible support to ensure that they are truly equipped to thrive.