We’re sure you have probably heard by now, but in case you haven’t, the UK has elected a new Labour Government.
A new Government is an exciting opportunity for new priorities, new policies and new practice to be introduced to improve the day-to-day lives of people in the UK. NYAS welcomes Keir Starmer as the new Prime Minister, and we are looking forward to working with the new Government to put care-experienced children and young people at the heart of it. At NYAS, we are excited to see new opportunities for care-experienced children and young people, and we will continue to ensure their voices are heard in any new decisions being made.
In their Election Manifesto, the Labour Party made a commitment to "working with local Governments to support children in care, including through kinship, foster care, and adoption". NYAS welcomed this commitment, and with Labour winning the election, now is the time for the party to act on their commitment made to care-experienced children and young people. We have outlined our top priorities for what the new UK Government should do to make sure all care-experienced children and young people have the tools, support and love to thrive.
Children’s Rights
Labour’s Manifesto made a commitment to upholding human rights in the UK. We welcomed this commitment, but there is more that must be done to prioritise upholding and advancing the rights of care-experienced children and young people. It is crucial that the rights of care-experienced children and young people are not just understood as a guiding principle but is at the heart of every decision made by policy makers.
NYAS are calling on the new Government to fully and directly incorporate the UNCRC into UK law to advance children’s rights, and make sure that no decision is made about children and young people without them.
Reform Children’s Social Care
Labour’s Manifesto stated that “every child should have a loving, secure home”. The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care had promised a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reform children’s social care in England, but unfortunately this has still not happened.
We know that ambitious and urgent proposals are needed to deliver a truly transformative care experience for children and young people. With a new Government in charge, now is the perfect time for this to be achieved. We welcome the Labour Manifesto committment to undertaking a “programme of reform to create a National Care Service” but this must also include children’s social care. NYAS are calling on the new Government to commit to a long-term funding strategy to deliver a ‘once-in-a-generation’ reform of children’s social care, that at least matches the £2.6 billion proposed by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.
Children and Young People at the Heart of Government
As political priorities change and evolve, a commitment to listening to children and young people should never fall off the agenda. When making new policy, NYAS encourages all new Ministers to ask themselves “would this be good enough for my child?”
We welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has already appointed new Cabinet and Ministerial positions as part of the new Government, but these appointments can go further for children and young people. NYAS are calling on the new Government to appoint a Children’s Minister to put the views, wishes and feelings of children and young people at the heart of government. We also urge the Government to protect the role of ‘Cross Governmental Lead for Care Leavers’ to ensure all government departments maintain a commitment to improving their lives.
Meaningful Engagement
Labour’s Manifesto stated that if elected, a Labour Government will bring about “renewed confidence that the future will be better for our children”. We are looking forward to working with the new Government to achieve this for all children and young people and particularly those with experience of care.
To make this vision a reality, NYAS are calling on the new Government to commit to respecting and valuing the views, wishes and feelings of children, and bring these to policy development. We believe that all children and young people should be empowered to be active participants in shaping their own futures and have the right tools to do so.
To find out more about NYAS’ calls for the new Government, check out our manifesto. We also have a young person’s version.
