#GoneTooFar
Our campaign to keep children in care close to the people and places that matter to them.
Thousands of children in care have #GoneTooFar away from the people and places that matter to them.
All children need and deserve the same things to thrive: a loving home, a stable support network, and access to the community that helps them feel like they belong. But children in care rarely get this when they are moved far away from the people and places that matter to them.
Almost 18,000 children are moved more than 20 miles away each year, often without warning – with some children moved more than 500 miles and the number of children experiencing these far away moves is rising year on year.
We know this is having a harmful impact on children’s lives and their futures. Being moved far away can disrupt a child’s education, their relationships – including with brothers and sisters who might live tens of miles away, and impact their mental health. Young people we work with have told us it makes them feel lonely, isolated, and even more stigmatised, and that they have little or no choice in where they live.
It doesn’t have to be this way. We are campaigning with an amazing group of care-experienced young people to change this, who have highlighted how things can be different and what this will mean for children in care.
“When young people are suddenly thrown into an area they don’t know and have to start a new life away from their family and friends and even people that look like them, it is extremely difficult.” – Jade
We want to see all children in care living in safe and stable homes that meet their needs. Together, we can help make this a reality. Read the highlights of the campaign so far.
Each year, children in care are being moved miles away from the community, people, and places that matter to them.
Our research reveals that...
18+ miles
the distance a child in care is moved, on average, from the people and places they know
Over 1 in 5
children in care in England are living more than 20 miles away from home
4 out of 5
children in secure settings are living more than 20 miles from home
2.5x more likely
to be living far away for children in private children’s homes
3,000
more children living further than 20 miles since 2018, rising every year
Read our latest report
Despite obligations on local authorities to provide homes for children in care in the local area, each year more and more children are being moved miles away from their home and friends, school, and family. Our new research and analysis shows:
- There are almost 18,000 children in care in England living more than 20 miles from home, representing 1 in 5 children in care.
- The number has increased by more than 3,000 since 2018, rising every year.
- Children in care are now living further away, on average, than they were a year ago.
- Children in private children’s homes are 2.5 times more likely to be living far away.
- 4 out of 5 children in secure settings are living more than 20 miles from home.
- Children living more than 20 miles from home are more likely to have significantly lower wellbeing than those who are placed closer to home.
- Children who experience multiple moves are more likely to be placed more than 20 miles from home.
Public support for the #GoneTooFar campaign
We know this is having a harmful impact on the lives and life chances of children in care.
Jade
“I was thinking how will I see my mum, my sisters, keep in touch with my friends? All the emotions together made me burst out in tears.”
Listen to Jade
Kevin
"If we want the best outcomes for all care-experienced young people then we have to keep them within their local area, keep those relationships intact, keep that sense of community so they become the best person they can be."
Listen to Kevin
Louise
“My twin sister was moved from London to Ipswich. That really affected her as she went from living in a city to a countryside with a lack of diversity.”
Listen to Louise
We’re calling on the Government for:
- A national commitment to stop children being placed miles from their home area when it is not in their best interests.
- The development and publication of national and local strategies to increase the provision of care placements closer to home, so that children don’t have to be moved miles from their support networks.
- New data collection and reporting on the numbers of children who are inappropriately moved miles from home.
- Increased accountability for national Government and local authorities.
#GoneTooFar in the media
Read the latest news coverage about the campaign, including stories amplifying young people's views and experiences.
Ezra's #GoneTooFar story - BBC News
'Charity Become said some children were 500 miles from home'
Read hereIsabelle's #GoneTooFar story - Channel 4 News
'Care system in crisis' - children living hundreds of miles from community
Watch nowJade's #GoneTooFar story - iNews
'Children moved more than 500 miles away from home due to ‘broken’ care system'
Read hereLaunching our new #GoneTooFar campaign
Charity calls for end to “unacceptable” number of children in care being moved miles away from their communities
Read press releaseCEO blog: “Government must act now"
Read our CEO Katharine Sacks-Jones's blog, published when the campaign launched in April 2023, revealing the shocking numbers of children in care being moved against their best interests, and the impact this has on their lives.
How you can get involved
Donate little but often
We know we won't succeed in our campaign overnight. Can you support us over the coming months so we can build momentum and help more young people? Set up a monthly donation for what you can afford and join our community of allies and monthly givers.
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