'Let children stay in care longer'

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As the Children and Young Persons Bill receives its second reading in the House of Commons, the group of 12 leading children's charities wants all young people to have the option of staying with their foster carer until the age of 21.

In an open letter sent to children's secretary Ed Balls, the charities wrote: "As MPs debate the Children and Young Persons Bill today, hundreds of 17-year-olds in care across England will be packing their bags and getting ready to 'go it alone', because local authorities are not required to look after them after their 18th birthdays.

"We urge the Government to take this opportunity to ensure all young people have the option to remain with their foster carers until the age of 21.

"This means giving a clear commitment to roll out proposed pilots across England as soon as possible, to support the foster carers looking after these young people and to provide the funding required to make the ability to stay until 21 a reality.

"We welcome many aspects of the Bill but failing to enable children to stay with their foster carers beyond the age of 17 will have serious consequences for this Government's stated intention of transforming outcomes for young people in care."

The letter was signed by representatives of the Fostering Network, NCH, Barnardo's, NCB, The Children's Society, BAAF, Voice, A National Voice, The Who Cares? Trust, TACT, Rainer and The Frank Buttle Trust.

Currently, English local authorities have a duty of care only until the age of 18. This means that some of society's most vulnerable young people are effectively being kicked out of home at 17 - if not before - despite the fact that the average age for leaving home for those who live with their own families is 24.

The charities say some foster carers offer a home to young people after they reach 18 because they do not feel the young adults are ready to face the world alone, but they often do so without financial support from their local authority.

More than 190 MPs, including 50 Labour MPs, have signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to take steps to ensure that young people in care have access to effective support, including where appropriate the opportunity to remain with their foster carers until they are 21 years old.