The tragic plight of black children in care

A young black boy is living with me. He is my foster son. I know what he likes for breakfast, where his friends live and what makes him smile. I have watched in fear and then awe as he has taught himself skateboard tricks. I have taken him to the doctor, and on holiday. Now I have to tell him that he will be leaving to stay with another foster family. According to social workers, this family is better for him in the long run. But the stats suggest otherwise.

Recently published figures from the government’s racial disparity unit are very concerning. Black children make up five per cent of the general population, but eight per cent of children in care. People are adopting black children at an alarmingly low rate. Only two per cent of adoptions in 2019 were of black children.