DWP SUPPORT FOR CARE LEAVERS

Yesterday I spoke in a debate on DWP support for care leavers.

It is essential that support for these young people is shaped by the lived experiences of those who are in the unique position of having the state as a corporate parent.

A disproportionate number of our care leavers are having supoort removed or live with punitive sanctions being imposed on them by the welfare system, hitting them hard since they often have no family or social support.

With poorer outcomes than their peers in educational, health amd employment terms, our FIrst Minister has announced a root and branch review of the care system in Scotland, driven by the experiences of those in care, taking into account the views of 1,000 young people who have experienced care.