Homeless peril facing young leaving care

COUNTY COUNCIL PASSES MOTION AIMED AT GIVING SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED

- By HANNAH BROWN Local democracy reporter

MORE young people who have left care are homeless or are facing homelessness, councillors said as they stressed the need to make sure they get the support they need.

Councillors at Cambridgeshire County Council have backed a motion calling for the creation of a 'member champion' to "bridge the gap between councillors and those who are living in care or who have care experience".

Councillor Bryony Goodliffe (Labour), who put forward the motion, highlighted the challenges children and young people who have been in care face. She said: "Being in care or having been in care is not a choice made willingly and comes with trauma and greatly affects life chances, life expectancy, education and health, including mental health.

"Just as my responsibility to my now adult children has not ceased, neither does our responsibilities as corporate parents to those who have been in the care system.