Cllr Deborah Taylor  reports:

Leicestershire County Council are working with Leicestershire Cares, a charity that supports young people.

Their aim is for an inclusive and safe Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland where nobody is left behind, and where all children and young people are supported to reach their full potential.

Peer researchers on the 'Joining Up Joining In' project at Leicestershire Cares met with Cllr Deborah Taylor to discuss the impact of how being care experienced has on their adult lives.

Deborah put forward a Motion to Leicestershire County Council to recognise 'Care Experienced' as a protected characteristic. At the council meeting on 21st February 2024, all council members approved the motion put forward by Deborah.

Deborah is now working on supporting all local borough and district councils within Leicestershire to also approve this Motion.

You can read Deborah's motion here (Item 9)

Here is a short video where you can see what this means to our care-experienced young people.

Deborah said,

"I'm delighted we have become the 81st council to approve my motion. I have been working with the national campaigner Terry Galloway for the last few months to get this motion passed.

I was pleased to welcome Terry and some of our young care leavers to the council chamber to witness this important motion being approved unanimously. 

I know this means a great deal to all our young people in care and our care leavers and I am dedicated to ensuring that they can all reach their full potential throughout their lives.

I look forward to continuing this work to include all our district and borough councils so that we can become the first county to all recognise 'Care Experienced' as a protected characteristic"

Cllr Deborah Taylor - County Councillor - Bradgate Division