Give Looked After Children A Chance

10 October 2006

Kathy Evans, Policy Director at The Children's Society, in response to the Government's Green Paper on looked after children, 'Care Matters', said: “The Children's Society welcomes the Government's commitment to tackle the injustice and exclusion still experienced by over 60,000 children who find themselves in the care of the State."

Kathy added: “This consultation is a real opportunity for the (more than) 13,000 looked-after disabled children to have a say in decisions that affect them by ensuring they have access to an independent advocate.

“Disabled children are at least three times more likely to be physically or sexually abused than non-disabled children. The right to an independent advocate whenever they need one would empower disabled children to speak out when things are going wrong and to take control of their lives.”