by Kerrie Portman. Care Experienced Labour Party member and Cambridge University Student

During my studies at the University of Cambridge, I conducted research into how political parties can be more inclusive of Care Experienced People, using the Labour Party as a case study. I chose this area as I am a Care Experienced and a Labour Party member. Unfortunately, I was bullied and excluded within my first CLP, though have since foud inclusion in other Labour circles. Political inclusion is allowing everyone having a fair chance to speak their political opinions and Care Experienced people should be no exception. Care Experienced People face systematic increased disadvantage such as higher rates of loneliness, premature death, unemployment, mental illness, and suicide attempts. These are not divorced from politics, making our inclusion within political settings even more important. Political parties can help create a sense of identity, shared commonality, and sense of belonging. Including Care Experienced People in political discussions can help us feel included and reduce the ‘othering’ and out-grouping. Political parties investing effort into including and valuing Care Experienced People within the Party and policies can improve the quality of life for Care Experienced People and aid the emotional duties of Corporate Parentship. Labour, specifically, has a legacy of inclusion and this targeted campaign brings increased responsibility. 

During my research, I conducted primary research, conducting semi-structured interviews with Labour Party members. During this, I found four key themes emerging; a lack of data rendering Care Experienced people invisible unless they made it known they were Care Experienced, a lack of cultural humility and CLP’s being set in their traditional ways, assumptions and the need for CLP’s to understand the importance of listening to the views of Care Experienced people to better be able to help the full spectrum of the community and training and terminology and how alienating this can make CLP’s and politics in general. 

At the end of my research project, I included an appendix of all the recommendations from my interviewees, which can be roughly divided into two categories; cultural shifts and practical suggestions. All interviewees agreed that Care Experienced People deserve to be more included and more involved within the Labour Party and I hope the recommendations are seriously considered

• Identifying the barriers Care Experienced people face
• Make it more welcoming to people in general
• Creating a safe space for Care Experienced people to share their experiences
• Creating policies that address structural barriers
• Recognising Care Experienced people as a specific demographic and marginal group culturally
• Increasing the visibility of Care Experienced people
• Creating networks, collectives and/or groups at CLP and regional level for Care Experienced members
• Educating members on different ways to engage
• Placing more emphasis on different forms of participation
• More education on Corporate Parentship
• Seeking input from Care Experienced people when writing manifestos
• Speaking to Care Experienced people and treating them with respect when issues are raised
• Specific support for Care Experienced members who want to run for positions (for example, looking at transferable skills)
• Having guest speakers who are Care Experienced speaking to CLPs
• Creating a Care Experienced Officer role within the Labour Party and having someone to specifically support Care Experienced members
• Reducing specialist terminology
• Being aware of new members
• Outreach to those who can’t attend branch meetings, as well as related local charities and organisations
• Specific outreach to recruit Care Experienced members into roles
• Advocating for being Care Experienced to be a Protected Characteristic and pass Motions to act as though it is
• Promoting Council Tax Reduction Schemes and other adaptions to improve the lives of local Care Leavers
• Mentorship for Care Experienced people
• Delivering (i.e. papers and reports) in a more accessible way
• Discussing which councils and CLP’s have implemented things that support Care Experienced people and things that haven’t worked
• Alternating the time, location and formal of meetings
• Making meetings “less tedious” and more engaging
• Putting thighs for Care Leavers in the manifesto to “signals something really positive to Care Leavers and other people with similar experiences”
• Holding regular meetings that explain the basics of the party, what they’re doing and how people can be involved