One of the core issues for ABW is the way children are dealt with in the foster system. Now, even if you know nothing about the care system, does it make sense to you to throw a vulnerable child of 16 out on their own into a world, they are not prepared for? This is what happens to a high proportion of the 6,000 young people who leave care annually.  Instead of easing into early adulthood and having the opportunity to learn from other adults, they will be forced out of the place they call home.

The story of this young woman in the Guardian illustrates the stupidity of the care system. Her foster family had looked after her from the age of 11. She had no other family, not even a dysfunctional one in the UK since she was from Vietnam. Noting she was approaching her 16th birthday the authorities did what they do best. They applied inhumane rules without thinking that they would not dare do it to their own children and decided it was time to for her to leave her only family as there was no more funding. The average age at which most children voluntarily leave home in the UK is 24. That means many are older. If you’re in care, that does not apply. This is superbly twisted thinking.

So the Fostering Network’s campaign for looked-after children (as they are called) to be properly looked after even when they reach 18 is important. It’s important because a kid’s life should not be down to the luck of the draw, the chance that their foster family will let them stay without funding.

From the article it seems that a small number of MPs have recorded video messages in support of the campaign. Where are the rest? When this goes before Parliament tomorrow it should be a no brainer. As tabling MP Paul Goggins says,

“It seems to me so wrong that just one in 20 young people who have found some stability in a foster placement are able to stay there when they reach 18,” he said. “A lot of effort goes into looking after these children, but having invested all that time and money and care, they’re forced to exit the system too soon, and we all know the difficulties that can result from that.”

For kids already struggling against a tide of neglect or abuse and who began their lives feeling they were not wanted, this is a huge blow. But actually it’s a slap in the face for society too. It’s saying, well there are tiers of kids and the ones that didn’t grow up in their natural family through no fault of their own, don’t deserve a proper childhood.

Nasty. And cruel.

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