By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A campaigner says he wants to work with East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward to make the region “the best possible place to live” for care leavers and children in care.
Terry Galloway spent much of his childhood in care alongside his sister, Hazel, before moving to Nottingham aged 25.
He says they made a promise they would strive to change the system together.
But in January 2008, Hazel was murdered by her partner Andrew Grundy, leading to Mr Galloway spearheading a campaign for change in her memory.
Domestic abuser Grundy, then 36 and from Paignton in Devon, was consequently jailed for life at Exeter Crown Court in the following November and handed a minimum term of 13 years.
Mr Galloway’s campaign aims to make ‘care experience’ a protected characteristic like disability, sexual orientation and race.
If achieved, it would illegalise discrimination against those in the care system under the Equality Act.
While the Government is yet to enshrine this in law, Mr Galloway has managed to get 95 councils to pass motions so they consider care experience as a protected characteristic when delivering their services.
He now wants the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) – formed as part of the region’s devolution deal – to consider the voices of those living in care, and those who are care leavers, in the future.
Mr Galloway told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he wants to bring together the work of different authorities locally under the broader banner of the combined authority.
This, he hopes, would mean all care leavers and children in care in the region no longer face “downward social mobility” and are considered in any policies that are drawn up.
“Care leavers are 70 per cent more likely to die prematurely,” Mr Galloway said.
“What I want to be is the official care leaver champion for the region. I want to reconcile what all the councils do across the region, so no matter where you live you get the same offer.
“I want it to be the best possible region to live if you are a care leaver.”
According to a comparison tool on the Care Leaver Local Offer Website, Nottinghamshire County Council currently offers the most support compared to other local authorities in the East Midlands region.
Support can include tax exemptions until the age of 25, free leisure offers, free public transport and housing priorities.
In November last year, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority proposed a comprehensive approach in support of care leavers and now considers care experience as if it were a protected characteristic.
Mr Galloway says he wants to set up a board under the new combined authority, headed up by Ms Ward, which would convene to discuss the needs of children in care and care leavers across the region.
“We’re now approaching 100 councils which have passed the motion,” Mr Galloway added.
“I feel a little bit flat about it because we’ve got to get the change, kids are still suffering and the system needs to be changed.
“But what an achievement. There are now 28 million people in the UK who live in an area where a council considers care experience a protected characteristic.
“There’s still a long way to go.”
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said: “I have huge admiration for Terry and what he has already managed to achieve on behalf of care leavers across the country.
“I’m currently in the process of establishing an East Midlands youth panel that will play an active part in delivering ground-breaking policies and initiatives across the region, and it’s key that the voice of care leavers is part of those conversations.
“As the new East Midlands Combined County Authority grows, it’s important that we aim to address the challenges faced by care leavers and create a more inclusive environment.”
