Fatima Whitbread appeals to the government to overhaul care system

Former javelin world record holder Fatima Whitbread has challenged the government to overhaul the care system in England to improve outcomes for children and young people, following a two-day summit last week.

Care experienced people, professionals and sector leaders came together at the One Voice Summit, organised by Whitbread’s charity, Fatima’s UK Campaign, to discuss a draft white paper on reforming the care system.

The document calls for a minister for children in care and care leavers, for being a care leaver to be a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, providing protection against discrimination, and the extension of the statutory care age up to 25, among 14 action points.

The summit, in London, was attended by children’s minister Janet Daby.

According to the Department for Education’s latest data, 39% of care leavers aged 19-21 were not in education, employment or training as of March 2024. And care leavers, those who have ever been in care, or those ever on a child protection plan are around four times less likely to enter higher education by the age of 22, compared with the general population, according to research published last month by Oxford University and the Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes.

The white paper has been drafted through the many conversations Whitbread has had with care-experienced people and children in care, as well as with professionals and sector leaders.

The reality star and Olympic medallist was abandoned as a baby and spent the first 14 years of her life in children’s home, before being fostered and then adopted by her javelin coach, Margaret Whitbread.

She has long advocated for better support for children in the care system and for the recruitment of foster carers.

Read about her backstory and what happened when she spent the day with social workers.