Local Government will Keep The Promise – COSLA’s Writes to Scotland’s  Care Experienced Children and Young People

COSLA has written to Children and Young People with care experience, reaffirming local government’s commitment to the promise 5 years on.

Today marks exactly five years into the ten-year Promise made to children and young people with care experience. That Promise was that the conclusions in the Care Review would be implemented in full and that all children and young people will grow up loved, safe, and respected.

Local Government recognises that although we are at the midway point in time, Scotland has a great deal more to do before it could claim to be midway through implementing the changes required to Keep the Promise.

Local Government is working hard to involve young people in the design of services and decision-making. Hard working social work professionals provide early support so that families can stay together, asking them what they need and working with other experts and charities who support families to deliver that. Virtual head teachers and other innovative approaches have been developed so that children and young people can be supported to learn and grow wherever they are living. Each year COSLA publishes the Local Government annual report on work undertaken to Keep the Promise. Examples like this from across Scotland are shared so that local areas can learn from each other and accelerate progress.

Although local authorities have a huge statutory role in relation to children and families, without the support of the wider public sector and within a complex national funding, legislative and policy landscape, Keeping the Promise will be all the more challenging.

Despite this, today Local Government recommits to Keeping that Promise made back in 2020. Cllr Tony Buchanan, COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson, has written an open letter to children and young people with care experience to make that ongoing Promise clear, and thank them for continuing to hold councils to account on their progress.

Councillor Tony Buchanan, COSLA’s Children and Young People Spokesperson, commented:

"COSLA continues to work nationally so that the supports you access locally are there when you need them. Local Government remains ambitious, determined and hopeful about what can be achieved in the next 5 years." [END]

Further information

COSLA’s open letter to Children and Young People can be read here.