A children’s charity has called for more support to be provided to new parents who spent their own childhoods in the care system.
Young people who grew up in care are around 2.5 times more likely to become pregnant in their teenage years than their peers, according to the children’s charity Barnardo’s.
These young parents often subsequently find themselves living alone in poor quality housing with little practical or emotional support.
In a new report, entitled Care-experienced parents unite for change, Barnardo’s called for the introduction of a statutory independent visitor or ‘buddy’ scheme to provide mentorship, informal support and advice for new parents up to the age of 25.
Barnardo’s chief executive, Lynn Perry, said: ‘Young parents who have grown up in foster care or residential children’s homes often feel a strong drive to give their own children the best possible start in life.
‘We know it takes a village to raise a child, but unfortunately parents who grew up in care often don’t have a support network around them. Yet with the right support, mums and dads who grew up in care can be amazing parents and powerful advocates for their children.
‘The transition to parenthood can be difficult for many, but it can be particularly challenging for people who spent their own childhoods in care. It is crucial that the support parents are offered doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all model and is tailored to an individual’s needs.’
