EPIC Youth Council @ Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card Launch

“Hi everyone, I’m a member of the EPIC Youth Council, which is a group of young people with care experience who advise EPIC and national stakeholders on teams and concerns regarding children and young people in care.

EPIC Empowering People in Care is a national organisation working with children in care and young care leavers up until the age of 26. I’m really glad to be contributing this year to the Children’s Rights Alliance Report Card. 

In particular, I would like to focus on two important commitments made in the programme for government. First is the development of the National Alternative Care Strategy and the second is the update to the Child Care Act. Both are very important opportunities to improve the care system, but only if the gaps that young people experience are addressed. One of the biggest issues is aftercare. Aftercare is what supports people when they leave care. However, the current system doesn’t work for everyone. The eligibility criteria for aftercare is set out in the Child Care Act, and it is disappointing that these weren’t fully reviewed in the recent amendments bill. This means that young people still fall through the cracks.

For example, young people who enter care later, especially at 16 or 17, may not meet the 12-month requirements to be eligible for aftercare. Separated children who are seeking international protection, who are accommodated on different sections of the law, may miss out on these supports. This may leave young people without an aftercare worker or the supports they need at a really critical time in their life.

Access to aftercare support can depend on education and young people who aren’t in education can be even more vulnerable and in need of this support. Aftercare should be based on needs and should not be limited by strict criteria. This is why it is important that these issues should be addressed in the National Alternative Care Strategy.

Housing is a major challenge for everyone at the moment, but in particular it can be difficult for a lot of people leaving care. When you turn 18, many people rely on their families, whether it’s for a place to live, financial help, or just someone to fall back on. But young care leavers often don’t have that option.  This could lead to homelessness, social isolation and difficulties with mental health. These are practical challenges like the lack of supported accommodation or that young people are expected to live independently once they turn 18 without gradual support, which most young people receive from their families.

For students, accommodation can be especially unstable with housing only available during term time and no guarantee of somewhere to stay during the summer. Aftercare workers can play a really important role in supporting young people to find and maintain housing, but this support shouldn’t fall on just one service alone. Cross-government approach. This brings us to a bigger issue, the need for a cross-government approach. Children in care are not just the responsibility of one agency. The idea of corporate parenting means that all parts of the government, including education, housing, health, should work together to support young people in care and aftercare. Young people leaving care should be supported in the same way that any young person is supported by their family.

Finally, it is really important that care-experienced young people are included in how these policies are developed and implemented. Not just consulted, but meaningfully involved in ongoing decision-making and oversight. This is also a key part of the United Nations Rights of a Child, which states that young people have the right to have their views heard and to be taken seriously. The alternative care strategy is a real opportunity to make these lasting changes. But to do that, it needs to address the gaps in aftercare. This includes responding to housing challenges that young people face and ensure that the voices of care experienced young people are heard and are at the centre. Thank you.”