WES STREETING: 'Care leavers face more challenges by 18 than most face in lifetime - we must support them'

As Christmas comes, families across Britain are getting together. But for tens of thousands of young people who've grown up in care, this time of year is unquestionably harder.

Children who have grown up in the hardest and harshest of circumstances are left alone to fend for themselves as soon as they turn 18. This time of year can be a stark reminder of what they've missed out on and the barriers they still face.

I know that care leavers are too often let-down by a system that can feel rigged against them. Unfortunately, it means that care leavers are more likely to spiral into homelessness, unemployment and face mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and PTSD.

We need to throw an arm around these young adults, to help them make their way and tackle the huge social injustices they face. That’s why I asked Josh MacAlister, a former teacher and social care expert to shine a light on this too often forgotten group as the first ever Children’s Social Care Advisor in my department. I’m pleased to say we’re taking forward his expert recommendations and now we’re delivering them.

That starts with getting them registered with a GP and a dentist. It sounds basic, but care leavers are often not supported in doing this and it puts their health at risk. From there, we're introducing a package of support to help transform the lives of care leavers across England.

From end of next year, every young person leaving care will receive free prescriptions, dental treatment, and eye care until they turn 25. We're also launching a mental health pilot so vulnerable children in care and their families can get support when they need it most. And we're tearing down the barriers that lead to unemployment and stop care leavers building successful careers by offering guaranteed interviews and paid internships for care leavers in our NHS.

But I know that support must start earlier. Too many vulnerable children in care fall through the cracks because the right information doesn't reach the right people at the right time – meaning issues can go unnoticed.

That's why we're introducing new safeguarding measures so that GPs are automatically alerted when young patients are in care, so they understand what their patient is going through and work alongside social workers, teachers, to keep these children happy, safe and healthy.

These aren't just policy changes. They're about recognising that children in care deserve the same opportunities as everyone else and sometimes need more support to achieve them. This government was elected to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life. That means action, not warm words.

It means investing £500 million in family help services. It means our Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill putting children's futures at the heart of everything we do by overhauling children’s social care, protecting vulnerable children from unsafe and illegal children’s homes, and making sure local authorities provide vital support to those leaving the care system.

Care leavers have already overcome more challenges by the age of 18 than most of us face in a lifetime. They deserve our support, our commitment, and a fair chance to succeed. Every child in Britain deserves to thrive, whoever they are and wherever they come from. That's the mission of this government, and these measures are the next step to achieving it.