The Government has set out a welcome ambition to put lifelong loving relationships at the heart of the care system. However, too many children still experience instability in care, which can place strain on and sometimes damage the relationships that matter most to them.
The inquiry will examine the impact of instability on children’s relationships, what can be done to prevent instability, and how children’s connections to the people and communities that matter to them can best be strengthened and maintained.
The APPG for Care-Experienced Children and Young People want care-experienced children and young people to be at the heart of the inquiry.
Relationships Inquiry: Young People’s Sessions
They are running ten online workshops to hear children and young people’s views in April and May – some of which will be attended by Parliamentarians from the APPG. Sessions will focus on different topics, with some specifically to hear from young people who share certain protected characteristics or experiences. Sessions will be:
* On Zoom, 6pm-7:30pm
* For children and young people who have spent time in care in England
* Focused on experiences whilst in care (not leaving care).
To find out about the sessions available and to register visit their website.
Tues 14 April – Being moved schools or disrupted education
Thurs 16 April – Distance moves
Tues 21 April – Children and young people who have been subject to immigration controls
Thurs 23 April – Care-experienced children and young people from the LGBTQ+ community
Tues 28 April – Sibling separation
Thurs 30 April – Professional relationships
Tues 5 May – Separation from community (cultural, language, religious or shared identity)
Thurs 7 May – Care-experienced children and young people from ethnic minority background
Tues 12 May – Moving home and the impact on relationships
Thurs 14 May – Care-experienced children and young people with a disability, or health condition
Other ways to get involved
Run your own session:
Organisations can run sessions with care-experienced children and young people, using our tookit and feed insights into the inquiry.
If you work with care-experienced children and young people and would like to run a session, then please contact appg@becomecharity.
Evidence survey:
Care-experienced adults, professionals and organisations can share views through our online survey. It collects insights about what works well and what needs to change to protect relationships.
Survey link: APPG for Care-Experienced Children and Young People: Relationships Inquiry- Evidence Survey.
Deadline: Friday 19 June 2026.