The government banned the use of unregulated supported accommodation, which provides housing but not formal care, for children aged under 16 in September.
However, campaigners have long called for the use of "care-less" provision, which often sees vulnerable young people housed in hotels, hostels and caravans, to be outlawed completely.
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Analysis: Put end to unregulated provision for under-18s, urge campaigners
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Delegate blog: Making the case for care until 18
Ofsted will begin to regulate such settings in 2023 but they will not be expected to provide care, which is central to the children’s homes quality standards.
The delegation of care experienced people, aged between 21 and 45, marched on Downing Street yesterday (1 February) supported by charity Article 39 and the Together Trust.
Members of the delegation told CYP Now it was important that “young people with care experience were given a voice”.
“If one more care-experienced person sees us doing this and thinks, ‘I want to join them, I can speak out too’, then I’m happy,” said Luke Elkins, 29, who lives in Hertfordshire.
Not every day you get to walk @10DowningStreet #KeepCaringTo18 @article_39 pic.twitter.com/CQnlKvPQmo
— Luke Elkins💙 (@LukeelkinsTV) February 1, 2022
Rowan Foster, 21, spent her teenage years in care. She lives in supported accommodation now and said she “wouldn’t have survived” living in such settings aged 16 or 17.
“I’m part of the delegation because I believe that all children, especially those who have had to grow up very quickly, deserve to be loved and cared for,” she added.
Brilliant afternoon with the #KeepCaringto18 campaign delivering their petition to parliament. @article_39 pic.twitter.com/vdIHdWlwSf
— Fiona Simpson (@fionajsimpson) February 1, 2022
Terry Galloway, 45, travelled to Downing Street from Nottingham.
He spent nearly all of his childhood in care and said: “The courts award local authorities care orders for children until they are 18.
“They are meant to be in education, not becoming victims to criminal gangs, crime and domestic violence. Having been through the system myself, I know first-hand how isolating it is when everything drops away and there is no safety net. My sister was in care with me and was always looking for love. She was preyed upon by predator's all her life until she was eventually killed. We can't be sending our children into the world at 16 with no care.”
The group was joined by MP for South Shields, Emma Lewell-Buck, who described the petition as “vital”.
Honoured to be with @article_39 presenting their vital petition to No 10 today 🌟.
— Emma Lewell-Buck MP (@EmmaLewellBuck) February 1, 2022
Every looked after child, no matter what age, should have accommodation that includes carers and care.
This Government have removed it from children over the age of 15. #KeepCaringTo18 🏡 pic.twitter.com/OALL9smfJK
She said: “Every looked-after child, no matter what age, should have accommodation that includes carers and care.”
Children’s commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, met the group by chance following the hand-in.
Posing for a photo with the delegates, de Souza told CYP Now, that while she would not publicly back the campaign she “supports the commitment and passion” of the group and said she supported the rights of all care leavers.
However, de Souza later wrote on Twitter: “Good to meet Article 39 and care leavers in Parliament after they had presented their petition on caring to 18 to No10. We need to care for children in care to 18 and beyond as we all do for our own children.”
Good to meet @article_39 and care leavers in Parliament after they had presented their petition on caring to 18 to No10. We need to care for children in care to 18 and beyond as we all do for our own children. pic.twitter.com/oYBGI7T1Mf
— Dame Rachel de Souza (@Rachel_deSouza) February 1, 2022
A judicial review, brought by Article 39, disputing the government’s refusal to extend the ban on non-care placements to 16- and 17-year-olds, is due to be heard at the High Court next week.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Councils have a duty to ensure children in their care have stable, safe accommodation until they reach adulthood, and are held to account by Ofsted where they do not meet this. We have banned the placement of under-16s in supported accommodation which is currently not regulated, so that they are only placed in regulated settings that meet their needs.
“Supported accommodation can be right for some young people aged 16 or 17 where provision is high quality and young people are ready for it.
“We are investing over £140m to introduce mandatory national standards meaning that from 2023 every type of social care placement for children up to the age of 18 will be regulated by Ofsted. We are also ensuring young people in care can keep their support networks as they approach adulthood and are providing councils with billions more in grant funding for vital frontline services, including children’s social care.”
