Rebuilding broken care system

SIR, – The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition was pleased to support Care Day (February 17) and to celebrate the lives and listen to the stories of care-experienced young people across Scotland.

The monumental commitment from the first minister to listen to 1,000 care-experienced voices, as well as the Scottish Government’s commitment to an independent root and branch review of care, has the power to change so many lives and is a bold first step towards rebuilding our broken care system.

This Care Day, led by Who Cares? Scotland, will see charities from across the country come together to celebrate care experienced young people and hear their stories so that together we can combat the negative stereotypes and stigma they face on a daily basis.

Improving the lives of lookedafter children is a desire that transcends party lines and days such as this go a long way in helping the general public become more informed about the lives of care-experienced young people and the hurdles they face.

That is why it is so important on this day for us all to stand together with care-experienced young people in our communities to positively recognise their identities so that all of Scotland’s care-experienced young people receive the love and support they deserve. The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition: Duncan Dunlop, chief executive, Who Cares? Scotland; Tom McGhee, managing director, Spark of Genius; Sophie Pilgrim, director, Kindred Scotland; Stuart Jacob, director, Falkland House School; Niall Kelly, managing director, Young Foundations; Liz May, national co-ordinator, Action for Sick Children Scotland