'I couldn't afford food or electricity' - why vulnerable teenagers need support this National Care Leavers Week
manchestereveningnews.co.ukSince 2022, the government has banned children aged 15 and under from being placed in "careless" settings – accommodation that has extremely limited support.
This ban has not been extended to 16- and 17-year-olds, despite 29 children dying whilst in independent or semi-independent accommodation over a five-year period (2016-2021).
In careless settings, children can live in a shared environment with adults without staff present, creating a major safeguarding risk.
Rebekah Pierre, a campaigner, social worker, and trustee for the Together Trust, experienced this herself when she was placed in ‘careless’ accommodation at age 16. “Despite my benefits and the job I did alongside school, I couldn't afford food or electricity – let alone books, school trips, or clothes," explained Rebekah. "I once wrote an essay with a candle in one hand and a pen in the other.
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