Keeping The Promise to all our children, young people, adults and families

Our Promise

The Scottish Government wants every child in Scotland to grow up loved, safe and respected so that they reach their full potential. We know that this hasn't been happening for every child.

Some children have to go into care which means sometimes they need a bit more help throughout their life.

In October 2016, Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, promised people with care experience that Scotland would do better. She said Scotland would come together and love each and every one of its children and give them a happy and healthy childhood.

To find out how to do this, the Independent Care Review was set up.

The Care Review had to hear everyone's voices. It needed to hear from the children and families who knew the 'care system' best – the people who had experienced it.

So for three years, between 2017 and 2020, the Care Review travelled all across Scotland to listen carefully to over 5,500 people. More than half of these people were children and adults who had been 'in care'. They told the Care Review what needed to change.

Lots of families also spoke to the Care Review about their experiences. So did the people who worked in the 'care system'.

The Care Review heard that Scotland needs to change how we care for children.

Scotland has made a Promise to you. A Promise that:

• you will stay at home with your family where that is safe
• if you do need to go into care you will feel loved, safe and respected
• Scotland will look after you and love you, not only during your childhood, but as you move into the adult world

The Promise is our commitment to you to make sure that you have the right support around you, at the right time and in the right way to help you when you need it.

The Scottish Government has signed up to do all of the things that the review has told us needs to change to Keep The Promise by 2030.

In March 2022, the Scottish Government published its Implementation Plan. This document sets out all the actions and commitments that we will take to improve the lives of people with care experience.