The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill has passed Stage 1 in the Scottish Parliament.

This Bill is a necessary step for all children and young people in the Care Experienced Community to grow up feeling safe, respected and loved.

However, there is much to be done to strengthen this Bill. It must deliver all that it can for the Care Experienced Community, who deserve the very best treatment from every service they interact with during and after their time in care. 

At Stage 2, MCR Pathways calls for the following areas to be included to strengthen the Bill: 

• A definition of ‘Independent Lifelong Advocacy’ to be on the face of the Bill
• Steps taken to bring all provisions of this Bill in scope with the UNCRC
• Clear reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability
• Ensure all provisions in this Bill have adequate funding to make a meaningful impact
• Work undertaken to include a Universal Definition of Care Experienced in this Bill  

MCR Pathways knows firsthand what strong preventative, relationship-driven intervention looks like. 

Our award-winning programme is grounded in evidence-driven practice, supporting the delivery of The Promise and helping Care Experienced young people to achieve the best possible outcomes and brighter futures.

In the 2024/25 academic year, MCR Pathways mentored Care Experienced young people in Scotland were, compared to their non-mentored peers:

• Twice as likely to stay in school to S5
• 12 times more likely to get higher grades
• 3 times more likely to achieve Higher qualifications

Find out more about our impact here.

It is vital that Care Experienced young people receive wraparound support as early as possible, and organisations and structures in place to provide this support are transparent and clear in their reporting.

We want to thank the MSPs who have shown relentless passion for this legislation and the Care Experienced Community. In particular, the Education, Children and Young People Committee, who have scrutinised the Bill stage 1, taken formal evidence from experts and consulted with the Care Experienced Community. 

This work has produced a strong set of recommendations for strengthening the provisions of this Bill to ensure the final legislation is as strong as possible for Care Experienced children and young people and their futures. 

There is no debate; The Promise must be kept by 2030. This was agreed in 2021 by every party in the Scottish Parliament, and commitment to its deadline has been shown across every sphere of government and throughout the public and third sectors. This Bill is the first step. 

We also require greater transparency and clear reporting to ensure the Promise is met, fully sustained and resourced beyond the 2030 deadline.

Find out more about our Policy work – https://mcrpathways.org/policy-and-influencing/