National Care Leavers’ Week
National Care Leavers’ Week 2007 will focus on extended transitions and the essential support provided by significant adults, both practically, emotionally and as role models.
This awareness initiative began with a single National Care Leavers’ Day in 2002, with care leaver and star DJ Goldie helping us to launch 10,000 balloons and packets of wild poppy seeds outside Parliament as a symbol of hope for all care leavers. During the subsequent 5 years of National Care Leavers’ Week, we have focussed on specific issues including housing, barriers to work and mental health, however the constant themes which underpin these key issues have come through as the need for longer, more gradual transitions – bringing the transition from care to independence more into line with that experienced by ‘family-reared’ children, and the importance of long lasting supportive relationships with key adults.
We therefore welcome the recognition in the White Paper Care Matters: Time for Change of these issues and look forward to a number of opportunities to explore the Government’s plans for extended transitions and increased practical support for young people moving on from care during National Care Leavers’ Week 2007.
Whilst celebrating the achievements of the many young people who leave care every year and make a success of their lives, and welcoming wholeheartedly the thrust of the White Paper on Transitions, we know that there are still young people preparing to leave care right being thrust into premature transitions which will jeopardise their future wellbeing. During National Care Leavers Week we will also be asking questions about how the new proposals are to be funded, what will be the pace of change, what happens to young people who fall between the old and the new arrangements and whether Government will give equal treatment to children in residential care, who under the present proposals do not have the same security in their placements and transitions granted to children in foster placements.
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