Children’s Social Care: Enduring Relationships Strategy

Debate between Baroness Smith of Malvern and Lord Bates

Monday 8th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

The right reverend Prelate makes a very important point. It is, of course, the objective of the Staying Close programme to enable young people, once they have left care, particularly if they were in residential care, to be able to continue to receive support. I will certainly go back and talk to my honourable friend the Minister for Children and Families about this point. I think that that is partly covered in the requirement for all authorities to have a support package for those who have left care, but the point about how we maintain the relationships that are at the heart of this strategy is a really important one that I will take up with him.

[Lord Bates (Con)]

My Lords, in welcoming the Statement, I also welcome my noble friend Lady Cash to the Front Bench. She brings great knowledge and understanding and, most importantly in this role, compassion, and we look forward to her further contributions. It is a tragedy in modern Britain that care leavers can emerge from care with no one they feel is there for them and no one they feel they can trust. For many of us, the source of those enduring relationships outside the family would be found in faith communities and sports clubs. Specifically, uniformed youth groups such as the Scouts, Guides and cadets built great relationships and instilled young people with essential self-discipline, self-worth and mutual respect. Does she agree that these are precisely the qualities that could benefit not only care leavers but all young people? If so, will she undertake to engage specifically with the uniformed youth groups to see how they can support this welcome initiative?

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

The noble Lord makes a really important point—notwithstanding the fact that my relationship with the Guides lasted about three weeks so could hardly be described as enduring. However, for many people, faith groups and youth groups of the sort that he has identified could well be the types of environments that could provide that support, that external help and some of those long-lasting links. I will certainly take that point back to my honourable friend as well.