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A young care leavers group travelled to Parliament in London to have their voices heard, following a meeting with their local MP in the capital.
As reported by Birkenhead News, Members of Wirral's Care Leavers Council met with Birkenhead MP Alison McGovern before they toured the Houses of Parliament and watched a live debate in the House of Commons.
The Care Leavers Council is made up of young people who have been under Wirral Council's care. They act as a formal parent for children in care, and they support care leavers up until their 25th birthday, helping them prepare for adult life.
Furthermore, the council can influence decisions made for children in care across the Wirral by using the experience of members. Wanting to branch out into wider politics, the group reportedly requested a meeting with McGovern in Westminster.
Kerry Bull, Operational Lead for Leaving Care at Wirral Council, said the visit showed the young people their opinions can have an impact outside of the Wirral.
"If we had visited Alison McGovern's constituency office in Birkenhead, rather than her main place of work in the Houses of Parliament, it would not have had anywhere near the same effect," she said.
Bull continued, saying the young people witnessed the government in action and how their voice can have an impact. She also said that the council shared their issues with Alison.
Kerry added that Alison McGovern plans to visit the Care Leavers Hub for dinner to continue building a longer-term relationship with the group.
As well as gaining an insight into Parliament, the young people had to navigate their way around London, learning important life skills. They had to find their way through a city many had never visited and budget money for lunch. They even documented it, with one group member becoming the designated social media content creator.
Kerry is optimistic that one member of the Care Leavers Council may have a future career in politics. "She wants to change the world," Kerry said. "She sits and pulls apart our care policies and tells us what is needed, while she is the first one out taking action in the community, such as litter picking. Getting to see the Houses of Parliament might help her realise what she can achieve."
The young girl said the visit helped her dreams seem "accomplishable". She also described speaking to Ms McGovern and seeing Parliament as "great to see".
Councillor Stephen Bennett, Chair of the Children's, Young Person and Education Committee, said: "As a council, we will always strive towards giving children and young people in our care the experiences that will secure the best outcomes and help them prepare for adulthood. As their corporate parent, we want to develop them for the future, help them build life skills, nurture their aspirations and give them the opportunity to thrive."
