Fatima's Campaign: to raise awareness and support children and young people in and from the care system in the UK. I hope to inspire meaningful change that will last a lifetime

Having lived in children’s homes for the first 14 years of my life, I believe I am well-equipped to be the right person to lead this campaign.

I understand the challenge these young people face, and I’m ready to work hard to implement the much-needed change that’s been called for by the care community.

In May 2022, the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care called for urgent reform and investment of £2.6 billion to address a spiraling crisis in children’s social care. But one year on, the Government has not committed to wholesale reform and investment in children's social care.

The major political parties should commit to appointing a Cabinet Level Minister for Children to oversee the full implementation of reforms to children’s social care, coordinate policy affecting children across government, and advocate for children’s rights and interests in national policy.

Evidence shows that early access to key family support services prevents children from suffering greater harm. Early-stage services are also great value for money when compared to the help available at the point of crisis.

Despite this, funding for ‘family help’ services is being cut. Action for Children's research found that spending on early-stage services for families has fallen by 48% over the last decade.

As a result, children are left waiting to be harmed before they are offered help.

When a child cannot live with their birth family, responsibility lies with the Local Authority to place them in a home that meets their needs. Kinship and foster care placements should be considered, where appropriate before a child is placed in a children's home.

When a child returns to their birth parents after spending time in care, it can be a difficult time for a family. This process is called 'reunification' and is an often overlooked part of the care system.

There is a wide variety of reunification practices across the country, but little central guidance on the best practice. To tackle this, I am recommending that the Government publish national guidance on how to support families before, during, and after reunification.

About Action for Children:

Action for Children is a vital lifeline for children in care, as their support system provides structure and help to around 35,000 children per year. However, there are currently 100,000 children in care in the UK, who need our help, most commonly to escape abuse or neglect.

I am committed to Action for Children and the marvelous work that they do for our young and vulnerable in care.

The latest Government figures show that the number of foster care applications has fallen by 20% in England since 2018. It’s estimated that around 9,000 more foster carers in England are needed to meet the demand. 

It is vital that we increase the number of foster parents and adopters to realize children's dreams. Together, we can give those in care a voice, so that they can be seen and heard.

Fostering is a very rewarding job, where a family can change lives. Those in care need your love and guidance not just to survive, but also to thrive. Love and security can make a huge difference, and fosterers receive vital support along the way. 💖

There's no better gift that you can give to a child or teen, than a loving family and a stable home. Every child has the right to a safe and happy childhood.

Deciding to become a foster parent not only helps those in need of a home and security, but it also improves families and communities in many ways and has the potential to make your life more fulfilled too. There is a great need for more foster parents, so please think about making that first step or finding out more.

Multiple charities exist to support this cause, the one I choose to support is Action for Children, as they help to protect and support these young people in need, providing practical and emotional care and support. They can help to ensure that their voices are heard, and campaign to bring lasting improvement to their lives.

Please support this special cause and those wonderful charities that #fostercommunities, so that we can care for this young generation in need. 

For those who would like to support and find out more about Action for Children, please visit and share this page as well as their website: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.