Children in care in the South West get Passport to Parliament
Over 40 children and young people in the care system in the South West met MPs, local councillors, the Children’s Commissioner for England, the Children’s Rights Director, and social work professionals on Friday (30 August) to talk about leaving care.
Passport to Parliament, which took place in Exeter Corn Exchange, is part of a new series of events run by The Who Cares? Trust.
The event gave children and young people in care from all over the South West the chance to debate whether there is enough support for teenagers leaving care (such as foster and residential care) and whether they should be supported by their local authorities for longer.
Children and young people from Bath, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Somerset attended the event.
The day included group workshops, sessions on politics, and a panel debate which gave young people the chance to put their views and experiences directly to Stephen Gilbert, MP for St Austell & Newquay, Dr Maggie Atkinson, Children’s Commissioner for England, Dr Roger Morgan, Children’s Rights Director for England, and Cllr Nicky Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People on Plymouth City Council.
Natasha Finlayson, Chief Executive of The Who Cares? Trust, chaired the panel. She said: “Passport to Parliament is our flagship project to engage young people from all over the country in national political issues, and empower them to campaign for the improvements to the care system they want to see.”
Stephen Gilbert MP said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for me to meet children and young people face to face, and hear the challenges they face when they leave foster care and residential care and have to live independently.
“Sometimes young people feel disconnected from their MPs, but I really want to break down those barriers and show them we are here to help. This was a great event for helping to do that.”
Chris Appleby, 23, is a care leaver from Somerset. He said: “The event was a fantastic opportunity for people who have been in care to share their experiences, good and bad, with other young people and professionals.
“While there have been some positive changes to the care system more work is needed. Passport to Parliament is an important platform to help make those changes happen.”
