A young person I support is 18, still in the care system and living in his own flat. He is doing incredibly well. He’s settled. He’s making friends. His college is literally next door. He’s building a life, finding stability and, most importantly, his mental health is good. He’s getting his life back on track. And now the local authority wants to move him miles away — apparently to save a few pounds. This is what is so fundamentally wrong with our care system. We talk about stability, relationships, education and positive outcomes, but when a young person finally finds all of those things, we put a price on them. What they seem to be forgetting is that moving this young man could cost far more than money. It could cost him his friendships, his education, his stability, his confidence and the progress he has fought so hard to make. You cannot keep moving young people around to save money and then act surprised when the consequences come back through your services. This isn't a flat. It's his home. This isn't just a placement. It's his stability. And this isn't just a budget decision. It's a decision about a young person's future. We need to stop treating care-experienced young people like numbers on a spreadsheet and start asking the most important question..... What will give this young person the best chance of a successful life?

It’s party conference season, and I want to see every party confront the growing crisis in our care system. The numbers are rising, not falling. More young people are leaving care only to face homelessness. More are being pushed into adult social care and left reliant on mental health medication. More are being targeted by predators and criminal gangs. And, tragically, more young people are leaving care and taking their own lives. This is not a crisis we can ignore. It demands urgent action.

The latest report from the Centre for Young Lives is absolutely devastating. Successive governments have failed our most vulnerable children and young people at every level. The damage is deep, and it will take years to repair. @CfYoungLives