Coram CEO Dr Carol Homden has today (30th September 2025) given evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, set up to examine the UK’s response to the pandemic and learn lessons for the future.
The Inquiry is currently considering the impact of the pandemic on children across the country as part of Children and Young People Module 8, with public hearings starting this week and scheduled to continue over the next four weeks.
Dr Homden began by explaining Coram’s work. She was then asked a range of questions covering the challenges in children’s lives pre-pandemic, an overview of the impact of the pandemic on children and young people, how children’s social care, notably fostering and adoption services, were impacted, and finally the pandemic’s impact on children and young people in contact with the immigration system.
She concluded by setting out Coram’s recommendations for the future, centred around a more systematic approach from government in future scenarios to ensure that key sector organisations are able to inform and support any response, along with a dedicated cabinet minister for children, to ensure that key questions for government are addressed more systematically.
The session is available for viewing on the Inquiry’s You Tube channel and you can read Coram’s written opening submission here.