First Minister hosts care experienced young people ahead of Independent Care Review

The First Minister pledged in 2016 to meet at least 1,000 care experienced young people while the review did its work.

At the reception at Bute House, Edinburgh on Tuesday, the First Minister said: “Thank you to all of the young people who took the time to raise their voice and share their very personal stories with me.

“You have helped to ensure we can provide a care system which will have love at its heart and give everyone in Scotland the childhood they deserve.

“The first thing I did after my initial conversations with care experienced people was to announce an Independent Care Review and I look forward to receiving the conclusions soon.

“But these conversations also made it clear to me that there were immediate actions we could take to improve the lives of young care experienced people across the country without delay while the Review was looking at the broader transformation required.

“That is why since 2016 we have improved access to funding support for further and higher education, committed to keep families together where it is safe to do so and introduced a fund to provide vital services and support to help improve the attainment of young people with care experience.

“We know there is more to do but this is just the start of the journey. Our work to improve the care system will continue and so will my conversations with young people who have experienced it.”

The 1,000 voices manifesto was created by Who Cares? Scotland and a coalition of charities. The £33m Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund is part of the wider £750m Attainment Scotland Fund.

Picture (c) Jane Barlow / PA Wire.