Her ‘charismatic laddie’ Pledge to ‘fix’ care system has come from very top

Nicola Sturgeon personally pledged to “fix” the care system last month after concerns were raised that a generation was being forgotten.

In a series of articles this week, The P&J has highlighted the tragic experiences of many former pupils of the old Oakbank School in Aberdeen.

However, the issues identified are common across the country among young people who have been through the care system.

Last month, the Who Cares? Scotland charity produced a report that warned children in care are treated like “second class citizens” and that the nation risked creating a “forgotten generation”.

It said young people were fighting for their rights, including the ability to see their brothers and sisters, as well as being able to stay in the same home for longer than a year and being heard in legal processes about their life.

And the charity’s report highlighted the importance of independent advocacy, where those supporting children to have a say are not connected to the services that look after them.

Following the report, Ms Sturgeon said she was making a “personal commitment” to fix the care system for young people in Scotland.

“I’m spending a lot of time with care-experienced young people as part of the commitment I’ve made to

“We’ve got to have a system that doesn’t let them down”

them that we’re going to fix the system and make it better than it has been in years gone by,” the first minister said.

“Society has got a big responsibility to the young people who end up in its care. We’ve got to have a system that doesn’t let them down, that gives them the same chances as any other young people will have.”