Their letter warns that “far too many” of the 84,000 children in care are “being let down by a care system that is not meeting their needs”.
There is “not enough safe, stable and suitable” placements for children, with many forced to live far from their local areas and move “multiple times a year”.
Siblings in care, who are “forced to live apart” are among the hardest hit.
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General Election 2024: what the children and young people’s sector wants to see from the next government
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Challenges in next parliament
“Decisions on where children live are being driven by financial pressures and what is available rather than by a child’s wishes and feelings, and what is in their best interests,” states their letter.
“Young people are made to leave care before they are ready, often on their 18th birthday – and for many even younger.
“They face a care cliff of support, expected to become independent overnight without a safety net to fall back on, leaving a disproportionate number facing homelessness.”
Disruption to education, poor mental health and loneliness are among other challenges care-experienced children face, says young people.
They are calling on political leaders to ensure that whoever forms the next government ensures there is “sustainable investment” in children’s social care to provide more stable, local placements that fit their needs.
There also needs to be stronger accountability to ensure high standards of support and the voices of children and young people need to be heard to ensure decisions that affect them “are meaningful and truly reflect their experiences”, adds their letter.
The “care cliff” of support young people endure when they reach adulthood also needs to be addressed, they warn.
“'Would this be appropriate for my child?' should be the litmus test. It’s about making decisions in our best interests,” said one 21-year-old signatory.
The letter has been coordinated by the charity Become, which adds that a fifth of children in care live more than 20 miles from their family, friends and school, due to a lack of local placements.
An average of 157 children have to move placements each day and last year 7,910 young care leavers were homeless or at risk of homelessness.
“Far too many young people tell us that the care system is not working for them – it is causing huge instability, disrupting their education, impacting their mental health, and leaving them feeling isolated,” said Become chief executive Katherine Sacks-Jones.
“With an election coming up we are calling on party leaders to listen to what care-experienced children and young people want and to commit to the reforms so urgently needed.
“The next government must have higher aspirations for care-experienced children and young people and deliver meaningful change so that every child has the love, care and stability they need.”
