7 March 2017

The views of more than 200 young people with experience of Scotland’s care system were presented to the First Minister today.

At an event hosted by the charity Action for Children Scotland the First Minister heard first-hand from both young Scots currently in care and those recently moved on about what aspects of the system worked for them and what they felt let them down.

She said:

Every child should have the best start in life and an equal chance to succeed. Yet, through no fault of their own, that’s not the case for far too many young people in care.

Children and young people are the best advocates for change and today I have heard some powerful stories that really demonstrate strength, courage and success in the face of circumstances that no young person should have to deal with.

We all have a role to play in supporting and listening more to our young people to ensure they get the same stability and life chances that the rest of us take for granted.”