An open letter to the Government from our care leavers

As a charity working across East Anglia supporting young people from care, we are passionate about giving care experienced young people the love, support and opportunities they deserve.  

The new government’s commitment to providing every child with a loving, secure home is commendable, but the 84,000 young people in England’s care system need concrete actions, not just promises. We believe the best people to advise you on how to do this are those who have been through the care system or the many struggling to navigate it right now.  

We want to bring you our young people’s voices. They have been there, and here is what they have to say: 

“Government paperwork is so difficult to get around. There’s no information around claiming Universal Credit, housing benefits or anything else you may be entitled to. The Job Centre gives you tons of forms.”  

“I’m really worried about turning 18 and wondering how I’d cope financially. Information on what I’m entitled to is really hard to find. Most people have families they can fall back on to help with advice and support.” 

“Mental health support is poor. We need this to be better funded to allow young people the time they need with professionals to work through their problems.” 

“I think all mental health services should be trauma-informed.”  

“Requirements for social workers should be changed so that they are all trauma-informed and actually care about the young people they are working with.” 

“I’ve had to live in hostels; some can be scary places. They can lead to you feeling very isolated. It’s not our fault we’re in this position. We should be supported to have better experiences – not simply being placed in the nearest available room.”  

“Social housing routes could be improved. Temporary or emergency accommodation should not be the only way to move into your own home. But it is for people who have been in care, and this could be traumatic or triggering. They also need to be mindful about the areas we are put in. Putting someone vulnerable in a 'troubled' area will make them more likely to engage in negative activities.” 

“The housing ladder needs to be more accessible for care leavers, potentially lowering the age to access it to 16 or 17 to help young people who are about to leave the care system to not end up in hostels or declaring themselves as homeless.” 

“I know that nearly 100 have made care experienced a protected characteristic. This should be the standard everywhere, so we don’t have to deal with the stigma of being a looked after child.”  

“We are normal people who have had a harder start in life to others, we’re not bad. We need the government to help eliminate the stigma around young people with care experience by talking about them in a positive and informed way. We are all humans at the end of the day and have been through enough.” 

“They should have someone in each school who is more informed with young people in care.” 

Young people like Natalie, Luke, Henry, and Finn have us, their Break family, to walk alongside them and fill in the gaps. But there are thousands more young people who are left on their own to navigate a system that just doesn’t work for them.  

The government are the corporate parent for young people who've been in care, but only until they are 25. Family should not end at 25.  

We urge our country's leaders to build a structure that gives the thousands of care leavers the love, safety and support you would want for your own children. 

Our young people want to be part of the solution. We invite you to come and meet them, hear our ideas and solve this problem together.  

This letter has been sent to current cabinet ministers, MPs in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, the Children's Commissioner, Josh MacAlister, and other influential people within the children's care sector. But we need your help to get it on their agenda.