The Promise says that:
- ‘Scotland’s parenting responsibilities are lifelong and holistic for the young people that Scotland has cared for.’
- ‘Present definitions that operate do not ensure that those who leave care prior to their sixteenth birthday are able to access legal entitlements, even though they have been removed from their families by a decision of the State.’
- ‘Older care experienced people must have a right to access to supportive, caring services for as long as they require them.’
However, we hear from the Care Experienced community through participation and advocacy evidence, including our Helpline, that Care Experienced adults are being left to struggle and are still facing stark inequalities in areas including health, socio-economic deprivation, education and employment and housing.
Key Messages
In order to Keep the Promise, Who Cares? Scotland’s Lifelong Rights campaign calls for:
A lifetime of equality for Care Experienced people by having:
- Extra protection for Care Experienced people of all ages to access their rights.
- Independent, relationship-based, lifelong advocacy for every Care Experienced person in Scotland who needs it.
Aims
- To work alongside local authorities, the Scottish Government, care providers and other agencies, to recognise the value of relationship-based, lifelong Independent Advocacy.
- To empower the Care Experienced community to influence law, policy and practice around The Promise, advocacy, equality and human rights to ensure extra protection for Care Experienced people of all ages to access their rights.
Objectives
- We will engage with Care Experienced people through a Summer of Participation.
- We will engage our members in a Love Rally and launch a report about Lifelong Rights during Care Experienced Week 2023.
- We will create opportunities for members to learn about their rights and attend campaign events.
- We will respond to the Mackie report and influence The Promise Scotland and the Promise Bill, continuing support for Jasmin’s petition.
- We will respond to the Human Rights Bill, support independent research on Care Experience and the Bill.
- Work alongside local authorities, the Scottish Government, care providers and other agencies, to recognise the value of relationship-based, lifelong Independent Advocacy and lifelong rights through local influencing, training, and a media and communications campaign. This will encourage local Corporate Parents to treat Care Experience as a protected characteristic.
- A State of the Nation report on Care Experienced people’s rights.
- We will continue influencing UNCRC Bill implementation, engage with the Scottish Government’s review of Scottish Specific Duties, and look for other policy opportunities to promote lifelong rights.