TACT, the UK’s largest dedicated fostering charity, has broadly welcomed announcements today by the Prime Minister concerning the care system.

Andy Elvin, TACT CEO said: “TACT particularly supports the proposals to improve support for children in care and better support when leaving care. The government could act now to end the unfair and discriminatory practice of forcing children in foster care to claim housing benefit to stay in their homes post 18.”

TACT also calls on the government to offer free university tuition to all care leavers and a guaranteed apprenticeship for all care leavers. The government must also make sure that all children in residential care can stay until 21.

Andy added: “The ‘adoption’ proposals are heavily spun by Number 10 as a way to increase adoptions. They will not do this but will very sensibly require local authorities to provide a high threshold of evidence to argue for their preferred option.”

It is to be welcomed that the government is focused on improving outcomes for children in care. However it must be remembered that 75% of children in care are in foster care so that should be the focus of most attention

For media enquiries please contact Laura Luxton, Communications Officer for TACT on [email protected] or telephone: 07977 411831.

Note to Editors

 About TACT (The Adolescent and Children’s Trust)

TACT is a children’s charity dedicated to providing outcome-focused fostering services for around 650 children across England, Scotland and Wales. Our voluntary income is spent solely on activities, extra support and therapy which directly benefit our children and young people, who are at the heart of everything we do. Our job is to help overcome the prejudice that looked after children suffer and help heal the damage done that led to them coming into care. Ultimately we believe that given a loving and secure environment, children in care can reach their full potential. For more information about supporting us or becoming a foster carer please visit: www.tactcare.org.uk