Thread by @IDickson258

1. Another thread of my rambling reflections about the politics of the care experience going back to the 50's to the present day. >

2. As I have said, the 50's/60's were brutally savage with violence towards kids routine across care. No complaints procedures, no advocacy, no pressure groups. Stigma, discrimination, feelings of abandonment, homelessness, etc etc >

3. I was in the job throughout the 70's until I retired in the noughties. I've been around the care system for almost 70yrs & must have seen 100's of care settings & spoke to 1000's of care experienced people. I've watched or taken part in care leaver politics most of my life >

4. Over the decades I've noted the many massive improvements, no more beatings, kids allowed in reviews, the end of order books, advocacy, complaints procedures, improved consultation, aftercare support etc. None given freely, all fought for>

5. I have watched the political awakening of the care experienced community & the beginning of a wonderful sense of identity & power. A butterfly is emerging.This is taking decades, but the care community is coming together in different settings over time and telling its truths >

6. As our care brother @SeanyWG shows in his films and our many care brethren over the years have described, the comings together of the care community have repeated loudly many times what is good, what has improved, and what needs changing.>

7. The conferences of the 80's, research by academics and charities, the @Careexpconf conference last year, the recent @OurCareOurSay2 webinar, have individually highlighted the areas that need work. The care community repeatedly shows it knows what needs reforming>

8. I would love to see all the learning of the conferences of the 80's and the work of care pioneers going back to Ian Brown in the 50's, together with the NAYPIC, Black & In Care conference leaders if the 80''s, careleaver led charities & groups, @OurCareOurSay2, @Careexpconf >

9. < ..all brought together in one place & shared. Let's see what the care community have been saying over decades. Make sure the Chair of the Care Review hears the truths of the three generations of care experienced people>

10. I have long got used to older care experienced friends saying "This was the same years ago & is the same still". It is, & we can all name the issues. They are the same because those with power have not acted to change them. It is as simple as that. >

11. I hope that the findings of @OurCareOurSay2 , #careexpconf, careleaver researchers & the work carried out by care experienced brethren over decades can come together to offer a powerful testimony to the care review of what needs doing - & has needed doing for years.