Campaigners and MPs advocating for care-experienced young people have formed a new cross-party group in Parliament. The group is urging the government to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic and implement policies to create better outcomes for care-experienced people

It will showcase what is happening in the 107 councils that have already adopted a motion to treat care experience as if it were a protected characteristic. The campaign’s core focus is to end the disparity and inequality faced by young care leavers. The Office of National Statistics found that 38% of care leavers aged 19-21 were not in education, employment or training (NEET) and were more likely to encounter the Criminal Justice System.

The group, chaired by Scottish National Party MP Chris Law and Labour MP Darren Paffey, will work to advance the campaign by providing a platform for care-experienced individuals to influence policy decisions. The group is currently looking to expand, having released a membership application form on social media.