Last Friday, we marked World Care Day, celebrating children and young people with experience in the care system. It was a chance to recognise their strength and achievements while raising awareness of the challenges they face.
This year’s theme, “Voices that Care”, highlighted the many people who support young people in care—whether they are care-experienced individuals, professionals, or advocates for a better future.
Why World Care Day Matters
For too long, care-experienced young people have faced stigma and barriers in society. The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care (2022) described this as:
“The disadvantage faced by our care-experienced community should be the civil rights issue of our time.”
In North Central London (NCL) alone, we currently support:
- 1,600 children in care
- 2,400 care-experienced young people (aged 18-25)
- 280 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
- 200 children entering care each quarter
This doesn’t include care-experienced adults over 25 or those placed in NCL from other local authorities, highlighting the scale of the care community.
Showing Our Support
To mark the day, colleagues from across NCL took part in the #ICare campaign by writing “I Care” on their palms and sharing their messages of support.
This simple yet powerful act symbolises our commitment to standing with care-experienced young people and challenging stigma.
Keeping the Momentum Going
Although World Care Day has passed, the conversation doesn’t stop here. You can still:
- Show your support by challenging stigma and sharing positive stories.
- Learn more about the care system through organisations like Become.
- Advocate for change by raising awareness and supporting policies that prioritise young people in care.
Let’s continue working towards a system that truly supports and empowers care-experienced young people—because every journey matters.
Join the conversation using #CareDay and help make a difference.