Making the case for care until 18

Away from the noise of the corridors, where fights, raves and drug-dealing took place amongst residents (who ranged from 16-year-old girls to 25-year-old men), I was isolated in a small white room on the third floor.

When I looked out of the window, I could see people for miles across the long stretch of promenade. But no one could see me.

The feeling of being unseen and unheard was all-encompassing. I was seen in a tokenistic way through fortnightly meetings with my social worker, or occasional ‘room-tidy checks’ by staff who did not know my name.

But I wasn’t truly seen or held in mind.

Not when, on parents’ evening, no one showed up for me. Or the time I was left to report serious allegations to the police by myself. And certainly not when nobody realised I was in hospital until the fourth day I was gone. I only really had my diary to turn to – something I recently published extracts from, which highlights challenges faced by children in care-less settings. I felt like I did not matter – a feeling shared by many in such settings.

If somebody had told me that one day, I would be part of a delegation of care-experienced people petitioning against settings which do not provide care at Downing Street, I would not have believed them. London seemed a far off, distant place, where people like me did not count. Nor would I have believed that over 10,000 people would have signed such a petition. The #KeepCaringto18 campaign means so much, because for the first time, I feel like people are listening.

It is a universal truth that marginalised communities want to leave the world a better place for those who come after; this petition gives me hope things will change.

When I think about it, since I left in 2011, things have indeed changed – but not for the better. The use of care-less settings increased 189 per cent between March 2010 and March 2020. The only people who have benefited from such changes are profit markers, who competed for 120m in contracts in 2020.

But it is time to put children before profit. The future of 16-and 17-year-olds, and those younger, depends on it. The alternative is unthinkable - it leaves children at risk of sexual and criminal exploitation, domestic abuse, and adverse mental health. I could go on.

On behalf of the care-experienced community, I share a simple message to our supporters - thank you for caring about those the government believes are not worthy of care.

Rebekah Pierre is a member of the #KeepingCaringto18 campaign and part of a delegation to hand in a petition at 10 Downing Street