Commenting on recent news about the premature death of care experienced people, Duncan Dunlop, Chief Executive of Who Cares? Scotland said:
“Today, I woke up to new statistics from the BBC outlining that care experienced people are more likely to be dead by the age of 21. Then followed the news that one of our 13 year old members had died after being found unwell on a bus. It is the third time that I have received a call like that this year. We are thinking about all of the care experienced young people we know today who are no longer with us.
“Statistics and news headlines tell us that something is wrong but they don’t tell us why. Care experienced people are more likely to die younger. Young people tell us time and again that they want stable, loving relationships. They tell us that they want a say in the things that happen to them. And they often tell us that a life in care hasn’t offered them that.
“The First Minister has announced a root and branch review of care in Scotland. This is a critical moment. The review will seek to understand how we offer love and long term relationships to young people in care. The news today is a sobering reminder as to why it is necessary. Unfortunately, it will have come too late for some. If we do not hear the care experienced voice throughout the review, we will miss the opportunity to create the change that the news today tells us is desperately needed.”
