Swinney vows to fulfil The Promise with further funding confirmed

The Scottish Government is “committed” to fulfilling The Promise, the First Minister said as he confirmed further funding.

John Swinney announced another £9.5 million of funding on the sixth anniversary of The Promise – a landmark report which followed Scotland’s Independent Care Review and set out a long-term commitment to transform the care system for children and young people.

He visited City of Edinburgh Council’s Corporate Parenting Hub on Thursday to meet young people supported by charity MCR Pathways and other services and assistance offered at the facility.

Mr Swinney said: “The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to fulfilling The Promise, which is about improving the lives of care-experienced young people in Scotland.

“We’re announcing today £9.5 million of funding support for local authorities to enable local authorities to put in place the essential support that care-experienced young people require, and this facility in the centre of Edinburgh is one good example of that; where young people can come to a place of safety, where they can receive advice and support and connection, which helps them to navigate their way through life.

“It’s an important element of the further progress that we are making to deliver on The Promise, and I’m confident the Government will be able to fulfil its commitments in that respect.”

Projects supporting the education and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people will receive a share of the funding this year through the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund.

Mr Swinney met a group of care-experienced young people during his visit and was given a tour around the facilities at the Hub. These include a sensory room, a gaming room and a cafe area.

He said: “What we have to make sure that we do is that we take a series of steps to build up the support for care-experienced young people within Scotland, we’ve taken early steps in that respect. There is now legislation going through Parliament to strengthen the legal obligations of the state in this respect.

“That’s an essential responsibility of the state to make sure that we’re supporting young people to fulfil their potential when they have experience of care.”

MCR Pathways chief executive and mentor Sharon McIntyre said: “MCR Pathways commends today’s announcement about the continued investment in the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund.

“It is critically important that care-experienced children and young people feel the direct benefits from this significant commitment. Every day, together, with partners, we see the real benefits of the power of personalised relationship-based mentoring across Scotland.

“We work side by side with dynamic communities, schools and local authorities like Edinburgh City Council, to bridge the opportunity gap for care-experienced young people through consistent, encouraging, trusted adult relationships.

“No two trusted adult relationships are the same, they are bespoke to each and every young person’s needs.

“These relationships empower young people to believe in themselves, value their own unique talents, build ambitions for their future careers – shaping their future, fulfilling lives. That way, confidence is built, self-belief instilled, skills are developed and engagement in learning achieved.

“On this poignant sixth anniversary of The Promise, collectively we are deeply committed to working towards Scotland becoming the first to commit to a life-changing trusted adult guarantee for every care-experienced young person in Scotland.”