Recently Kieran, member of SiCC and SLCC (Somerset in Care and Leaving Care Councils) went up to London and met Prime Minister Kier Starmer at the House of Commons about the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25, a Bill designed to improve the safeguarding of children and to raise education standards.
While at Westminster, Kieran shared his thoughts and voiced his experiences of being a young person who has been both a child looked after and a care leaver in a speech. During his speech he also talked about the hard work that SiCC and SLCC do to raise the profile of young people in the care system, to challenge services and help them meet the needs to care experienced young people.
In addition to meeting Prime Minister Kier Starmer, Kieran also met Members of Parliament Jess Asato and Munira Wilson.
Kieran said of the experience:
“I wanted to make a change to unfunded care and schools, make all of us be heard and noticed. It was amazing to meet the Prime Minister, I actually had a little chat with him, so that was really nice to talk someone who is running the country. It was once in a lifetime.”
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25 looks to make provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people with 40 different measures that aim to remove barriers to opportunity in schools and improve the education system, making it safer for every child and young person, as well as strengthening regulations, improving quality of care to ensure it meets the needs of children and young people.
For more information on SiCC and SLC, you can visit SiCC and SLCC – Somerset Leaving Care Local Offer, or email somersetincarecouncils@somerset.gov.uk.
