Hub for SUCCESS responds to Scottish Government consultation on defining ‘care experience’
The Hub for SUCCESS has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation Developing a Universal Definition of ‘Care Experience’, which seeks views on how to create a clear, inclusive national definition of the term.
Our response was co-developed by people with lived experience of care and by professionals from the partner institutions that support them. It draws on the lived expertise of over 45 care-experienced student ambassadors, alongside insights from our direct one-to-one support with more than 700 care-experienced learners since 2018. This unique combination of experience and evidence ensures that the response is both grounded in real life and informed by practice and policy.
The Hub for SUCCESS strongly supports the creation of a universal, inclusive definition of ‘care experience’. We believe a clear national definition would:
Improve understanding and consistency across sectors;
Reduce stigma and promote the use of considerate, unified language;
Help individuals identify their rights and access the support they are entitled to;
Ensure consistent eligibility for initiatives such as the Care-Experienced Student Bursary and the Scottish Funding Council’s widening access work;
Enable better policy alignment, measurement, and accountability across education, social care, and government.
However, the Hub cautions that any universal definition must remain flexible and responsive to lived experience. A rigid or overly narrow approach could risk excluding individuals whose experiences of care do not fit neatly into statutory categories. Definitions must allow for nuance, discretion, and evolution over time.
In our response, we note that the development of the Care-Experienced Student Bursary has already helped shape a working definition that is more inclusive than statutory terms such as “Looked After Child” or “Care Leaver”. The Hub recommends that this existing, inclusive definition—already widely used across further and higher education—be adopted as the foundation for a national standard.
“Our response is grounded in the voices of people with lived experience. The definition of care experience must be shaped by those it represents—by people who know first-hand what it means to grow up in and beyond care. A consistent national definition will not only clarify rights and entitlements but will also help Scotland continue its journey to keeping The Promise.”
The Hub for SUCCESS remains committed to working with the Scottish Government, partners, and care-experienced communities to ensure the definition reflects both lived experience and the evolving understanding of care in Scotland.
