The Herald has today published our founder Iain MacRitchie’s response to the Queen’s Speech. The Speech outlined plans to provide greater support to young people leaving care. Iain’s response also follows David Cameron’s comments on the country’s young people:
“It’s critical that the Prime Minister has highlighted the unacceptable plight of our children and young people in the care system and the radical new approaches needed to help them. After all the state is the parent and what parent would not want to do everything and anything it takes to ensure their child realises their full potential.
The state has all the resources needed to ensure not one young person in the care system is let down and all go on to achieve everything they are capable of. It is time to end the gross and unacceptable inequality and ensure that there is no difference in the education outcomes and life chances of care experienced young people. Especially given that they are disadvantaged through absolutely no fault of their own.
We need to deal with the fact that the vast majority of care experienced leave school on or before they are 16, only 12% attain higher qualifications vs 59% of all school leavers and the majority go on to unsustainable post school destinations. This is how we should assess our effectiveness at addressing social injustice and attainment gaps.
We would caution against sweeping generalisations. These young people are as talented as any other. Adoption may be excellent for some but may not be for all. These are individual young people that need our care, respect and attention. They need to be listened to carefully and supported on an individual by individual basis. Parenting isn’t general. Our social workers, care professionals and those helping the young people need the time to build quality relationships. Relationships are what bridges talent with opportunity and chance to overcome
barriers. Relationship are being built in Glasgow’s corporates, communities and individuals that are making the difference.
The MCR Pathways campaign championed by The Herald has now generated over 850 registrations from those wanting to get involved and help. In Scotland we are pioneering policies through the Children and Young Persons Act to close the inequality and attainment gap and to support our most disadvantaged. Young people can now stay in the care system up until 21 and benefit from after care services until they are 25. Still not the same choices as other young people but progress nonetheless. The organisations named as corporates parents have been extended to include other public sector bodies including the NHS, Police, Fire service, Sportscotland, SDS, SQA, Universities and colleges. These policies in combination with the increased number of organisation being named as corporate parents gives us a platform.
However it is only a platform. As we know through 8 years of our MCR Pathways programme, trusting relationships, time and opportunities to develop skills and talents are what makes the difference. This is what allows these young people to realise their full potential and break decades of poor outcomes. Being taken into care can decimate confidence and self-belief and create a lifetime of issues to deal with. Disruption and disengagement are natural human reactions and simply need to be supported and compensated for. The next stage of our development as a just and fairer society is simply to be the parent and provide opportunities and support for as long as they are needed. Parental responsibility is a constant, a long-term relationship and not limited, conditional or restricted.
We would echo the Prime Minister’s comments that professionals should be allowed to use experience and common sense to make good judgments rather than rigid rules and processes. Scottish policies are leading the way and progress of social justice. Despite budget issues, Glasgow City Council and the Education Authority in particular are working hard to improve outcome and life chances. It is not political, it is just our DNA. Commitment to be a caring parent, always looking to promote, support, encourage and mentor is what matters and makes the difference. It is critical that these issues are highlighted and policy and practice changes made to address them. The announcements in the Queens speech are excellent steps forward for young people in the care system. More personalised help and even reference to mentoring is excellent. The next practical steps will be what counts.”
THE HERALD ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE TO READ NOW
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Can you help a young person realise their full potential and be defined by their talent not their circumstances? More disadvantaged young Glaswegians are signing up for mentors to help them overcome barriers and inequality to be all that they can be. Can you help them? One hour a week and a willingness to put a young person first are all you need. You’ll make and experience a life-changing difference in helping a young person to find, grow and use their talents. MCR Pathways will provide all the training and support you need.
