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Support the #KeepCaringTo18 campaign

Together with those who form the #KeepCaringTo18 campaign group, we are asking organisations and concerned individuals to join us in ensuring that all looked after children and young people receive care, wherever they are living.

Under domestic and international law, a child is a person under the age of 18.

Children are ‘looked after’ when a family court has made an order giving parental responsibility to a local authority, or when they are ‘accommodated’ with permission from parents/carers or the child if they are aged 16 or over.

The #KeepCaringTo18 steering group is seeking your support for the following guiding principles to be upheld.

  • If a child is being looked after by the state, they should receive care – up to at least 18 years.
  • All children need care for their well-being and development, and this can be provided alongside respect for growing autonomy.
  • Children, young people and care leavers must be at the heart of policy development in this area. This includes those who are currently in secure settings and those who have had extremely difficult experiences in care.
  • All forms of accommodation for looked after children must be regulated and inspected.
  • We reject the creation of two tiers of children’s residential care. The regulation of supported accommodation for looked after children must include a guarantee of care. One obvious way forward is for these settings to follow the children’s homes regulations and standards, which already apply to children up to age 18 and beyond.
  • The government must provide sufficient financial resources for local authorities to meet their statutory duties to all looked after children.

If you or your organisation would be willing to add your name to publicly support us in pressing for safe, caring and supportive homes for all children in care, please visit and complete the form here.

Support the #KeepCaringTo18 campaign

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