Entitled,Sweet 16? One Year on – Is life any sweeter?, the report revisits SCCYP’s Sweet16? report of last year to see what progress has been made regarding issues surrounding young people leaving care. Core to the original report was that looked after children were eight times more likely to leave care at 16 rather than 18 years and, once having left care, could find themselves in inappropriate housing without adequate support.

Today’s report (March 25 2009) has discovered that while there is real commitment in principle to implementing the original report's recommendations, and work is under way to effect future change, lack of resources is a major barrier with fears that it will get worse.

Kathleen Marshall, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People said:

“This anniversary report is a call to action. Although work has started to put many of the recommendations of Sweet 16? into place, there is still a great deal left to do. A system where young people can successfully make the difficult transition from care to independent living requires a commitment to their basic human rights.

“Particularly in times of financial distress, we need to make sure that children and young people are the first to receive support. Yet I am hearing anecdotes about services for care leavers being cut back or reconfigured, possibly to save money.”

Heather Gray, Director of Who Cares? Scotland said:

“It is really important that this critical issue remains high on the agenda. If we are to improve the outcomes for children and young people leaving care in Scotland, we must resource and manage transitions far more comprehensively. We urge all the wider corporate family to take steps to make a difference.”

Ilona Richards of the Scottish Throughcare & Aftercare Forum said:

“When families have to tighten their belts, the last thing they cut spending on is their children. Local authoritiesmust make surethe vulnerable young people leavingtheir care have somewhere safe to live and the support they need to build their lives.”

 ENDS