Mark Riddell spoke at a meeting of Waltham Forest Council last week (27 April) to discuss his own experience of the care system and praised councils which have pledged to take forward the motion.
Following the meeting, Riddell said on Twitter that it was an "absolute privilege" to speak at the meeting which saw the motion passed unanimously.
He added: "This is a massive win for care experienced young people. Well done Waltham Forest for caring."
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Absolute privilege to talk after the care experienced young adults. Unanimous decision to introduce Protected Charateristics - full cross party support. This is a massive win for care experienced young people. Well done Waltham Forest for caring.
— National Adviser for Care Leavers Mark Riddell MBE (@AdviserCare) April 27, 2023
Councillor Alistair Strathern, Waltham Forest's cabinet member for children and young people, moved the motion, saying: “Righting the wrongs experienced by those let down by the care system is one of the equalities issues of our time, and today we are playing our part in tackling it.
“As a local authority, this commits us to acknowledging and addressing the challenges faced by those with care experience across everything we do, from breaking down barriers to work to ensuring fair access to housing.”
A group of care leavers also attended the meeting to share their experiences of being in care and the impact it had on their lives.
The motion, which pledges to consider discrimination faced by those with care-experience when making new policies, passed with cross-party support.
The policy also includes a commitment to formally support the nation-wide campaign and write to the government calling for care experience to be made a protected characteristic in as part of the implementation of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.
Waltham Forest joins more than 25 councils that have committed to adopting care experience as a protected characteristic, after the policy was set out as a recommendation in the Care Review but was not taken forward by the government in its response.
It was especially moving to hear from a number of external speakers in support of the motion, including @TerryGalloway who has led an inspirational campaign across the U.K. to galvanise local councils behind the motion and spoke powerfully about his own experience of care 2/ pic.twitter.com/tkkt2SiFk1
— Alistair Strathern (@alistrathern) April 27, 2023
Care experienced campaigner Terry Galloway, who is leading the campaign, told councillors: “Around the country, the lives of care leavers are slowly improving as more and more local authorities are making this vital change.
“I am really proud that Waltham Forest and other councils across London are taking this step, hopefully more will follow."
Great to welcome @TerryGalloway at our senior leadership forum this morning to think about how we take the next steps to make real our commitment to recognising care experience as a protected characteristic @catherineu_ncc @MyNottingham
— Ailsa Barr (@Ailsa__Barr) May 3, 2023
Galloway also met with Nottingham City Council's senior leadership forum this week (3 May) to discuss the implementation of care experience as a protected characteristic, and is working with a core group of councils to demonstrate the impact of the policy.
