Statistics show that children reach the age of 24 years before they leave the family home and with rising housing costs and fewer employment opportunities many would agree that making you way as an adult is now a much more challenging task!
Consider the prospects for children in the care system, particularly those in foster care placements. The average age they will be expected to leave the safety and security of their foster family is between 16 and 17 years. I’m sure we can all agree that it took many years of nurturing and support from our parents before we were fully ready to ‘fly the nest’ and survive in the adult world.
How can vulnerable young people under 18, who have often come from very dysfunctional and turbulent background, possibly be expected to cope?

The ‘Don’t Move Me’ Campaign.

The Fostering Network is at the forefront of a campaign to extend the foster care leaving age to 21 years. ‘Don’t Move Me’ is gaining some real political support from figures such as Tim Loughton and David Blunkett. The campaign is urging the government to increase the care leaving age to 21 by an amendment to the Children and Families Bill.
This movement towards increasing the care leaving age has seen some success in the past with 11 Local Authorities piloting a scheme called ‘Staying Put’.
The evidence to support the campaign is strong with studies showing that young people staying with carers past the age of 16 are twice as likely to be in full time education at 19.
Care leavers are currently overrepresented in the Prison population and are significantly more likely to be unemployed, single parents, homeless or in receipt of mental health services.  Remaining in care until the age of 21 is linked to increased educational attainment, delayed pregnancy and higher earnings.
But if children are to stay in care to age 21 then more foster carers will be needed to meet increased need. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer we can match your skills and abilities with local agencies, simply complete our ‘Register Your Interest’ form to begin your fostering journey.