Wirral Young People Share Care Experience in Parliament 2026

Key Points

• Members of the Wirral Care Leavers Council travelled to London for a visit to the Houses of Parliament.
• The group met Birkenhead MP Alison McGovern during the visit.
• The young people discussed issues affecting children and young people with care experience.
• They toured Parliament and watched proceedings in the House of Commons.
• The visit also included practical activities covering travel, budgeting and social-media content creation.
• Wirral Council supports care leavers under its corporate-parent responsibilities until they reach the age of 25.
• One young person said the visit made her ambitions of working in politics feel more achievable.

Wirral (Liverpool standard) August 25, 2026 — Members of Wirral Care Leavers Council travelled to Parliament to learn more about the national political system and share their experiences with their local MP.

Wirral Care Leavers Council visited the Houses of Parliament in London, where members met uk/local/birkenhead/">Birkenhead MP Alison McGovern, discussed issues affecting care-experienced young people and watched a House of Commons debate.

The young people were welcomed to the Houses of Parliament as part of a visit organised to give them an opportunity to see politics taking place at a national level. During the trip, they met Ms McGovern, toured the parliamentary estate and observed a live debate in the House of Commons.

The visit enabled the group to discuss issues which affect children and young people who have been in care. It also gave them a chance to understand how MPs represent their constituents and how matters are debated in Parliament.

Kerry Bull, Wirral Council’s Operational Lead for Leaving Care, said the parliamentary setting gave the experience greater significance for the Care Leavers Council members.

Ms Bull said:

“If we had visited Alison McGovern’s constituency office in Birkenhead, rather than her main place of work in the Houses of Parliament, it would not have had anywhere near the same effect.”

She said the group had seen the Government in action and had gained an understanding of how their views could reach beyond Wirral.

What did the young people discuss with Alison McGovern?

The Wirral Care Leavers Council used the meeting with Ms McGovern to raise issues affecting children and young people in care.

Ms Bull said the group was able to use its collective voice to speak about concerns that affect care-experienced young people, not only in Wirral but more widely across the country.

She said:

“Our Council shared the issues they have with Alison. They were able to use their voice for every child and young person in the country who is looked after. It was a wonderful experience for them.”

The meeting offered members a direct route to discuss their experiences with their MP. It also allowed them to see how local concerns can be communicated to people involved in national political decision-making.

Ms Bull said the visit could help establish a continuing relationship between the Care Leavers Council and Ms McGovern. The MP is expected to visit the Care Leavers Hub for dinner, creating another opportunity for members to discuss matters important to them.

What is the role of Wirral Care Leavers Council?

Wirral Care Leavers Council provides a platform for young people with lived experience of care to contribute to discussions about services, policies and support for children and young people in care.

Its members use their experience to identify issues and share views on the support available to care leavers. The group is intended to ensure that care-experienced young people are involved in conversations which may affect their lives.

Wirral Council has a responsibility as corporate parent for children in its care. This includes offering support to care leavers until the age of 25.

The council’s role is designed to support care-experienced young people as they move into adulthood. This can include help with education, employment, housing, health and independent living.

The Parliament visit showed members how national politics operates while also reinforcing the value of their views in discussions about care and support services.

What practical skills did the Parliament visit involve?

The London trip involved more than a visit to Parliament, with members also taking part in activities intended to support practical life skills.

Ms Bull said the young people had to navigate a large city they had not previously visited and manage their own lunch budgets during the day.

She said:

“They had to find their way through a city they’d never been to and had to budget the money I gave them for lunch.”

One member was also asked to create social-media content during the visit. Ms Bull said this gave the young person another practical responsibility and helped the group develop skills that could be useful in the future.

Travelling through London, managing money and creating content formed part of a wider experience that combined civic education with preparation for adult life.

What did Wirral Council say about the visit?

Councillor Stephen Bennett, Chair of Wirral Council’s Children, Young People and Education Committee, said the authority was committed to giving children and young people in care opportunities that could help prepare them for adulthood.

Cllr Bennett said: “As a council, we will always strive towards giving children and young people in our care the experiences that will secure the best outcomes and help them prepare for adulthood.”

He said the council’s role as corporate parent involved helping young people gain life skills, develop their ambitions and access opportunities which could support their future.

Cllr Bennett described the Care Leavers Council as the voice of children and young people in care. He said it was important for members to learn more about democracy and understand how they could participate in decision-making.

He added that young people in care should feel valued, supported and able to fulfil their potential.

How did the visit affect a young Care Leavers Council member?

One young member said the visit had made her political ambitions seem more possible.

She said:

“Going made my dreams seem more accomplishable. It was such a good day being able to see politics in action, speaking to Alison and the other people working in Parliament was great to see.”

Ms Bull said the young person had an interest in policy and in making a positive difference in her community. She said the member regularly considered care policies and expressed views about what support should be available.

The young person also takes part in community activity, including litter picking. Ms Bull said seeing Parliament could help her better understand the opportunities available to people who want to influence policy or create change in their communities.

Background: Why is the Care Leavers Council important?

Wirral Care Leavers Council represents young people who have been in the care of the local authority. It gives members an opportunity to share direct experience of services and identify areas where they believe improvements are needed.

Care leavers may require support with a range of issues as they move towards independent adulthood. These can include accommodation, training, work, education, health and maintaining relationships.

Wirral Council’s corporate-parent responsibilities mean that the authority continues to support eligible care leavers until they are 25. The Care Leavers Council is one way in which young people can contribute to conversations about how that support is provided.

The visit to Parliament connected local experiences in Wirral with the national political process. Members were able to meet their MP, see the House of Commons and explain matters affecting care-experienced young people.

Prediction: How could the visit affect care-experienced young people in Wirral?

The visit could encourage Care Leavers Council members to take a more active role in discussions about services and policies affecting young people in care.

Meeting an MP and observing Parliament may give participants a clearer understanding of how concerns can be raised with elected representatives. It may also help them feel more confident in sharing their views with decision-makers.

For care-experienced young people in Wirral, continued engagement between the Care Leavers Council, Wirral Council and Ms McGovern could provide further opportunities for issues to be discussed directly.

The practical parts of the visit may also benefit participants by developing confidence in travel, money management and communication. The longer-term impact will depend on whether the views shared by Care Leavers Council members continue to be considered in future decisions affecting young people leaving care.