I am a kinship care leaver. From the age of 12 to 16, I lived with family and friends while trying to navigate the responsibilities of high school. At 16, after the loss of my father, I found myself relocated to a hostel with minimal support. There was no language to explain my situation; I often questioned what category I even belonged to. Was I homeless? Was I a care leaver? Neither term quite fit. My situation is far from unique: especially within ethnic communities, children are often raised by an extended family, and my story resonates with many other silent voices. 

At 17, I was given my own flat, far from everyone I knew. The challenges of living alone, managing finances, and navigating adulthood with no prior support took a serious toll on my mental health. After turning 18, I, like many others, was expected to cope entirely on my own—no financial help, no emotional support, and no safety net.

There were times I wished I had just been put into the care system—because at least then I might have had access to the resources and support others did. Kinship care leavers often fall through the cracks. Many end up homeless, battling mental health issues, or struggling with addiction—not because they did anything wrong, but because the system failed to recognise and support them.

It wasn’t until last year that I came across the term “Kinship Care”, and it was a turning point for me. I cried reading about it—finally, there was a word for my experience. I messaged my sister to tell her, and that moment of recognition meant everything. It also highlighted a sad truth: even within the same family, siblings can have completely different upbringings, with some supported while others are left behind.

That’s why fighting for kinship care leavers to have equal access to the same support as care-experienced young people is so important to me. No one should be left behind just because of the way they were raised. We deserve the same start in life, the same opportunities, and most of all—the same recognition.

We ardently affirm that I Am There is advocating for an imperative revision in the support system for youngsters exiting care, demanding equal access to resources, support, and opportunities for kinship care leavers that are currently exclusively available for local authority care leavers. This petition seeks a legislative and policy reform to ensure exactly that. Everyone deserves a chance to thrive, no matter the type of care they've experienced. This is a common enigma shared by a significant number of young people, particularly within ethnic communities. Let's allow them to begin their adult lives on equal footing with their peers. By signing this petition, you are championing for policy changes that offer equal opportunities for all care leavers. Sign today and bring us a step closer to fairness in care.