Thousands of children in care are set to receive stronger support to maintain relationships with their brothers and sisters with a proposed new law that has been shaped by the experiences of a North Yorkshire care leaver.
The planned legislation places a clear duty on all local authorities in England and Wales to promote and arrange contact between brothers and sisters who are separated while in care.
Parliament has supported the new framework, which has been shaped by the efforts of campaigners including Jonny Hoyle, who was a child in the care system before becoming an employee with us.
An amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which is likely to be voted through by MPs next month (May) will ensure that local authorities will do all they can to provide contact between brothers and sisters, even if, for instance, they are living a long way away from each other. This includes half and step-brothers and sisters.
It will apply unless it is not in children’s best interests, because of violence, abuse or where social workers have other concerns about wellbeing.
The move follows years of campaigning from people who have experience of care such as the Jonny. He has spoken openly about the long‑term impact of losing contact with brothers and sisters after entering the care system.
He has described being separated from his brother, Chris, who now lives in York, as one of the most “painful experiences” of being taken into care.
Jonny, the group manager for our leaving care team, was placed in foster care in Scarborough at the age of 13. He was separated from his brother after being told that two teenage boys could not share a bedroom.
Determined to change this, Jonny, who was a teenager at the time, spoke to a senior officer at the former North Yorkshire County Council to make the case for his brother to live with him. This officer intervened and a short time later his brother was fostered by the same family – Odette and Trevor Townsend, and the brothers were finally able to live together again.
Welcoming the support, Jonny, who still lives in Scarborough and is a father-of-three, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to see that the law is set to change. My brother was my most important relationship and being able to grow up together was so important to both of us.”
“Chris means the world to me, and it was agonising when we were initially separated but we were blessed that a senior leader here in North Yorkshire was prepared to bend the rules to do the right thing. “Knowing that future generations of brothers and sisters in care will have stronger rights to stay together means everything to me.
“It shows that lived experience can make a real difference and I’m proud that the Hoyle brothers have played a small part in helping make this happen.”
The proposed new measures are expected to bring lasting benefits for thousands of children to help to keep a close bond between brothers and sisters throughout their time in care.
Executive member for children and families, Cllr Janet Sanderson, said: “This change in the proposed law is hugely important and long overdue. Keeping brothers and sisters together wherever possible should be at the heart of our care system and these new measures will help ensure that.
“Brother and sister relationships provide stability, comfort and identity for children in care and strengthening those rights will make a real difference to their lives.
“We are proud that lived experience from North Yorkshire will help shape national change.”