Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North, has pledged to become a Care Aware MP – committing to listen to care-experienced young people locally and champion their needs in Parliament.
This follows an announcement by the government of a £550 million boost to the Families First programme, expanding early help and whole-family support and taking the government’s investment in children’s social care reforms to £2.4 billion over this Parliament.
Amanda Martin MP said: “Every child deserves safety, stability and the chance to thrive – no matter their start in life.
“Care-experienced young people in Portsmouth are ambitious and determined, but too often they face barriers that their peers simply don’t.
“Becoming a Care Aware MP means listening to their experiences, understanding how the care system is working on the ground, and fighting for better support in Parliament.”
The Labour Government has set out plans for major reform of children’s social care, including:
- Children and families receiving support earlier, and family group decision-making offered before decisions are taken to remove children from home.
- Multi-agency child protection teams to ensure police, health, education and social care work together to keep children safe.
- Reform of the placements market, new Regional Care Co-operatives and powers to tackle excessive profiteering.
- Extending Staying Close support up to age 25 for care leavers, and corporate parenting duties across more public bodies.
Amanda Martin MP added: “Children in care and care leavers are at the heart of Labour’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity.
“I’ll be meeting with local services and with young people regularly to make sure their voices shape the reforms we deliver.”
