Member News: Together Trust - Teenagers across England asked: “what does care mean to you?”

On Children’s Rights Day, the #KeepCaringTo18 campaign group launched a call to action for 16 and 17 year-olds living in England.

The campaign group wants to know what care looks and feels like to 16- and 17-year-olds to help influence government policy. The views of all 16- and 17- year-olds are sought no matter where and with whom they live.

Earlier this year the MacAlister Care Review recommended that all children in care should receive care where they live by 2025. The campaign group wants government to commit to this immediately and believes the views and experiences of 16- and 17- year-olds can help make this happen.

Latest data published this week shows that 7,470 16 and 17 year-olds in care (37% of that total age group in care) are living in semi-independent or independent accommodation, including flats, bedsits, hostels, and shared houses. In these types of accommodation, teenagers are entitled only to ‘support’, not care where they live.

Back in February 2022, a delegation of care experienced people handed in a petition signed by over 10,800 care experienced people, social workers, academics, sector professionals, and members of the public. Together, they called upon the government to extend the ban on unregulated, ‘care-less’ accommodation for children aged 15 and under to those aged 16 and 17.

The government has so far taken no steps towards ensuring every child in care receives care. Instead, it is investing over £140 million into introducing standards for accommodation for 16- and 17-year-olds which deliberately omit any requirement to provide care.  

It’s hoped 16 and 17 year-olds all over the country will join this vital action; the online survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and can be found below: 

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Source:
www.togethertrust.org.uk