People who have been in care will receive stronger support, fairer treatment and better opportunities under a new West Sussex County Council strategy designed to tackle discrimination and stigma.
The Ending Discrimination for People with Care Experience in West Sussex Strategy 2026–2031 sets out how the council and its partners will work to ensure that care‑experienced children, young people and adults who have lived in care for a period of their life are recognised, valued and supported to thrive, and not judged or limited because of their past. It builds on a 2023 council motion recognising care experience as a protected characteristic locally, meaning council decisions must consider the needs of care-experienced individuals.
The strategy was co‑produced with care‑experienced young people and developed alongside partners including and Sussex Police, ensuring it reflects real experiences and needs across West Sussex.
The new approach sets out to ensure:
Fairness in public services, including housing, health, education and employment, by challenging unconscious bias and outdated assumptions. This includes addressing situations where individuals might be treated differently because of harmful stereotypes, such as assumptions about trauma related behaviour or the likelihood of criminality.
Greater support into adulthood, ensuring young people leaving care can access the help they need to live independently, pursue education, find work, and maintain their wellbeing. At the end of April 2025, West Sussex County Council was supporting 986 children in care and 709 care leavers up to age 24.
A community that better understands care experience, helping employers, service providers and residents recognise the challenges care‑experienced people may face and the simple changes in approach that can make a meaningful difference.
Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “People who have been in care should not be defined by their past, but by their individual potential, resilience and contribution to their communities.
"This strategy is about making sure that every care‑experienced person in West Sussex has the support, stability and fair treatment they deserve so they can achieve their full potential. Our commitment is to remove barriers wherever we find them, challenge stigma, and help create the conditions in which everyone can thrive.”
The strategy is available to read in full on the council’s website.
