Luke Pollard MP Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
It’s the last day of Care Leavers Week today. I’m really proud to have campaigned on care leavers issues alongside Barnardo’s for some time.
There are thousands of young people in care across the country and I want them to get a better deal. These kids matter and it’s time they got a proper deal from the government.
Last year I hosted an event for Plymouth care leavers in Parliament (pictured). The group of young people travelled to Parliament to encourage MPs to think more about the needs of care-experienced young people, and I was so proud of them for sharing their stories
Just as councils are corporate parents, I want the government to realise they’re corporate grandparents.
In the next few weeks I’m hosting a roundtable in Westminster on my campaign to change government policy so that every young person leaving care is offered help to get their first rental property, that councils act as guarantors because many young people don’t have contact with parents, and that there’s help with deposits.
These young people have often had a poor start in life through no fault of their own. Let’s give these brilliant young people a better start – it’s a duty Britain hasn’t been delivering on – and it’s time we did.