Thursday 14 February 2008

I had a very good meeting last night with young adults who for part of their lives grew up in foster care.

They raised lots of issues with me about the challenges of leaving care and living independently.

Most young people have a family network behind them when they leave home and make their way in the adult world. For young people leaving foster care the situation can be very different.

The council supports them as much as we can. Council members sit on the Children's Champion Board to listen to young people's concerns and suggestions, and take them into account when making decisions that will affect their lives.

The main challenges they raised with me are finding good accommodation, access to transport, managing on a very tight budget and getting on education and training courses or into work.

I have taken what they told me seriously and will take their issues and suggestions back to my colleagues in the council to be dealt with at the highest level.