written by Francess Horton
SLRA’s care experienced young people were amongst 100+ young people in parliament on June 22nd for #ItsOurCare Day of Action. Three of our young people from the Care for Young Migrants participation group represented young people with immigration issues in the care system and spoke directly to decision makers about what needs to change in the care system. For the past 2 months these three young people from our youth participation group have been preparing for the #ItsOurCare day and all their hard work paid off. Our brilliant young campaigners were involved in round table discussions with the Children’s Commissioner for England, Secretary of state for education, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Responsible for public expenditure, Shadow Minister for Children & Early Years and Josh McAlister Chair of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care. One of the young activists also spoke to their local MP Rosena Allin-Khan who listened to what they wanted to say and which change they want to see in the care system. It was important for care experienced young people with immigration needs to be represented on the day as with over 80,000 children in care, SLRA’s Taking Care report found out that 1 in 10 young people in care have an immigration issue.
“I felt very good and powerful because I was representing myself and many other young people that didn’t have the opportunity to be there” says Carla one of our young people who spoke about higher education difficulties faced by herself and others.
We hope to continue the work with these brilliant young people who will have follow up meetings in the next few months with the care review team.
SLRA would like to say a massive well done to the Care for Young Migrants team who represented themselves and other young migrants so powerfully.