Cambridge care leaver hopes sharing story of abuse leads to law change
She wants care experience to become a protected characteristic
A Cambridge student who faced abuse while in care is calling for a law change to give better protection to people like her.
Kerrie Portman says she considered taking her own life at 10-years-old before professionals described her time in a children's home as child abuse and "torture".
Kerrie bravely shared her story recently at a Cambridge City Council meeting, as members agreed to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic.
"My story's not the worst by any means"
She told us what problems she still faces:
"When I was taken into care and they (care staff) abused me, that severely worsened my mental health but there's a lot of indirect discrimination to things like not having support and not having people to cheer you on," she said.
"Whilst I think my story is awful, it's not the worst by any means so I think it's a very serious issue."
Kerrie's story
Kerrie was taken into care when she was around 15 and 16-years-old, and said she suffered "verbal and sexual abuse".
She told councillors that when she was first taken into care she was told nobody would love her because she was disabled.
“I was told that children’s home was shut after I aged out from, quote, ‘too many incidents of child abuse’," she said.
"I do not know what counts as ‘too many’, but I do know that number was higher than one."
After leaving care, Kerrie found support accommodation but ran away from this "because they were abusing me and my concerns were ignored.
"They were later found guilty of institutional abuse."
Kerrie then became homeless after dropping out of university because of receiving what she said "no support during the pandemic.
“When my best friend killed herself and I felt like it was my fault I gave up on the idea I could ever have friends.
“I first attempted suicide at 10, I was first homeless at 13, my story is not unique."
Kerrie, now 25, is studying at Cambridge University but she said she still hasn't received support as a care leaver.
What is a protected characteristic?
Under government legislation, it is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of characteristics including age, gender reassignment and disability.
By making care experience a protected characteristic, councillors hope this will prevent care leavers facing direct and indirect discrimination, such as in housing, education and employment.
A government Equality Hub spokesperson said: "The protected characteristics listed under the Equality Act are distinct and there are no plans to add to the current legislation.
"Those who have been through the care system may already be afforded protection through many of the existing characteristics."
Motion will go 'a small way' to help care leavers
Similar motions have been passed by Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority calling for better protection for care leavers.
Councillor Geri Bird, who sits on Cambridge City Council, said she spent time in the care system and that more should be done to support young people who've experienced care.
“Young people who are in care who come out and then have to start living a normal life have the biggest problems we’ll ever face.
“I think we should push whatever government is there, we have got to push for them to put money into this system so we look after these people, so as soon as they come out of care they get a council house or a flat to start them off.”
Kerrie hopes by educating people about issues she's faced, the problem can be tackled.
“I know there is some data in the motion on how systematic the issues for care experienced people are," Kerrie added.
"If I use my experiences to speak out, people who aren't aware of the care system and failures of the care system, they can become more aware and hopefully they can work to change this, and I'll feel what happened to me wasn't a waste.
"Whilst you don't fully understand the problem, you don't understand how you can help a problem.
"If people have a vague idea of care leavers' lives, they don't understand there is something they can do to help."
Councillor Cameron Holloway, who proposed the motion at Cambridge City Council's meeting, said he hoped the recognition will “go a small way to mitigate the harm experienced by people throughout their lives”.