Government brands campaign to provide care for all 16 and 17 year old’s a ‘catchy slogan’

A campaign by children’s rights organisations which says that “all children in care need care” has been dismissed as a “catchy slogan” by government lawyers during a High Court hearing. The comment was made during a judicial review, brought against the Department for Education by children’s rights charity Article 39, over claims that secondary legislation which bans the use of accommodation that does not provide care for those aged under-16 “discriminates” against vulnerable 16- and 17-year-olds. Article 39, which is part of the campaign #KeepCaringto18, has used the phrase “children in care need care” to put forward their argument publicly. The charity argues that a child classed as a looked-after child must have a care plan and, therefore, must be in need of care. Read more.