Care leavers champion protected characteristic campaign at Downing Street

Care-experienced young people and campaigners delivered the campaign’s new report to Downing Street this week (14 June), calling on the government to introduce legislation to make care experience a protected characteristic under equality law.

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The policy was included in the Care Review’s recommendations, but the government failed to take it forward in its strategy to reform children’s social care, which was published in February this year.

However, the protected characteristic campaign, led by care-experienced campaigner Terry Galloway, has seen more than 30 councils pass motions to treat care experience as a protected characteristic, even without government legislation.

Care-experienced young people have been directly involved in the campaign, with many giving speeches at their local council meetings urging councillors to support the motion. Many of these care leavers attended the Downing Street visit to further champion the cause.

Fay, a care-experienced young person from Rotherham, said: "It was such an honour to take this campaign to Downing Street and to be the one to hand in the petition. I’m extremely proud of myself and the other girls who helped, and I really cannot wait to see the change we’re fighting for.”

Cara, a care leaver from Doncaster, added: “We’re a voice for all children who don’t have the confidence to speak up. Change needs to happen and it needs to happen now.”

The campaigners also met with the children’s commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, to discuss the report’s recommendations and the aims of the campaign.

Fantastic to welcome young people today to @childrenscomm office to powerfully share their experiences of care and their passion for making care experience a protected characteristic. https://t.co/qpch9gq3IJ

— Dame Rachel de Souza (@Rachel_deSouza) June 14, 2023

“Attending a meeting with the children’s commissioner created a safe space to listen to and speak about care experience becoming a protected characteristic,” said Penelope, vice-president of Oldham Youth Council.

“Though not care-experienced myself, it enabled me to vocally champion the voices of those who are and clearly state our encouragement for other youth councils to do the same.”

Galloway added: “The young people’s corporate parents would be so proud of what their children achieved today; it was hard, it was emotional, but they stood up for care experienced people everywhere. Speaking about discrimination and stigma they go through on a daily basis hurts, so at the very least people should listen to them.”

The protected characteristics report lays out five recommendations to government, including:

• the swift introduction of legislation to make care experience a protected characteristic

• the commission of an information campaign to inform care-experienced people about protected characteristics

• consultation with care-experienced people about the difficulties they face in relation to stigma and discrimination

• consultation with the devolved nations

• the commissioning of a destinations study to identify where care-experienced people are, what services they use, and their long-term outcomes.