Starting a movement, one Ministerial meeting at a time with Enfield’s Cook and Chill project
The Cook and Chill project were invited, (with the help of Lloyds Bank Foundation), to step into rooms where decisions are made.
Jim Wasswa, Change Champion, Enfield LocalMotion
“The Cook and Chill project were invited, (with the help of Lloyds Bank Foundation), to step into rooms where decisions are made and where our voices have been missing for far too long.
Around the table sat care leavers from Enfield, representing countless young people whose voices could not be present. Across from us sat Josh MacAlister, Minister for Children.
Jayden, George and a third care leaver spoke with courage, honesty and unfiltered truth. Their stories laid bare a system that repeatedly fails children. At each stage, young people are left to navigate life without clarity, guidance or genuine support. And too often, the results are devastating.
After my colleagues spoke, I asked the minister: “How do you feel after listening to these experiences?”
He responded bluntly: “I am not surprised.”
For once, we heard honesty from the top: the institutions surrounding children in care behave less like parents and more like corporations; protecting themselves before protecting the child. If we want real reform, we must start with something every child deserves: love. The minister said he wants to see more lifelong relationships, stronger support to keep families together, and better provisions for kinship carers. These are important steps, but love cannot exist without accountability.
One meeting cannot change the system, but it can start a movement. And we will keep knocking on doors until those doors stay open.”