Falkirk Council leading the way in support of young people who are care experienced

Councillors agreed on Wednesday that being care experienced should be considered a “protected characteristic”, adding to things such as age, disability, race, religion and gender, which have protection against discrimination through the 2010 Equality Act.

Three members of Falkirk Champs Board, which gives a voice to people who have been or are in care locally, were the first group of care experienced people to address a Scottish council on the issue. They were backing a national campaign that hopes to see the UK legislation also change.

Terry Galloway, who is spearheading the national campaign, joined the meeting online. He spoke powerfully about the impact of the care system on him and his family, telling members that by the time he left care he had lived in over 100 places. While he did make a life for himself he watched his siblings turn to drugs and alcohol because of the trauma they had been through.

At a funeral, when his sister told him that she thought she’d be the next to die, he promised that they would use their trauma to try and change the system “so that other people didn’t suffer the same fate as we had”. His sister did die just a few months later, killed by a violent boyfriend. Mr Galloway highlighted the fact that care experienced people are 70 per cent more likely to die prematurely than any of their peers.

“The system is broken – we need change,” he said. He said that Falkirk’s decision would “send a message out to everybody” that it was everyone’s responsibility to change.

In the council chamber his plea was echoed by the young people from Falkirk, who told councillors that they did not want sympathy or special treatment – they just wanted the same chances as their peers.

Gemma said: “When you listen today, don’t think ‘poor wee things’, ‘rags to riches’ because we’re not. We are not vulnerable, we are capable and we are proud.”

She, along with Isa and Casey explained to councillors about the barriers they face, such as having lots of addresses when trying to get permanent accommodation. While Falkirk Council has given them free access to council-owned leisure facilities, they often feel disadvantaged, with no access to transport and little money even for things such as a trip to the cinema.

Isa said: “We want to be part of designing a new future and the more people are aware of the barriers we face will ensure that they are removed as much as possible when decisions are being made.”

Proposing the motion was Labour councillor Siobhan Paterson, who said she was “honoured to play a supporting role” in their campaign.

She said: “As the first group of Scottish young people to come forward and speak in support of this kind of motion, they’ve done themselves proud and I know they will inspire many more to follow suit.”

The motion was seconded by the leader of Falkirk Council, SNP councillor Cecil Meiklejohn and supported by all members.