HUNDREDS of people with experience of the Scottish care system gathered in Glasgow on Friday to campaign for the right to be loved. 

Care Experienced people came from all over Scotland and were joined by people with experience of care from all over the world. 

Organisers said the event presents a moment in history where, for the first time ever, Care Experienced people will take to the streets, demand recognition and ask to be loved. 

The rally and march were organised by Who Cares? Scotland, an organisation that works for and on behalf of Care Experienced people. 

The group's CEO, Duncan Dunlop, said: “This will be an historic moment. Never has the care community and friends claimed the public space before. We are demanding that the discrimination they suffer on a daily basis ends - that their right to be loved finally becomes a reality. 

“This is not an angry march, but a positive celebration for all care experienced people of all ages and stages. We have had members all over Scotland coming to our offices to create banners, giant love hearts and colourful t-shirts. It has all been very exciting, but it is also a poignant moment.

“Across Scotland, communities campaign against Care Experienced people moving into their community. Some of our members attended one of these meetings. They were not allowed to speak and were made to feel unvalued and demeaned because of their experience of care. That experience felt brutal.We aim to change that negative attitude through a public demonstration of positivity and love towards care experienced people.”

The event began with a gathering in St Enoch Square at lunchtime on Friday before a procession through the streets of Glasgow, led by a small band. 

The afternoon culminated with a rally on the steps of the Royal Concert Hall, with politicians and care experts from across the country taking part. 

Who Cares? Scotland's Kevin Browne-MacLeod said: “Care Experienced people and Who Cares? Scotland’s 2,000 plus members have told us that love is the most important element that they feel is missing from care at present and they have no right to experience it.

“Unfortunately, this has led to so many, never experiencing love, never feeling love and never being told that they are loved. In fact, many communities have actively campaigned against Care Experienced people being in their community.

“This is because of the stigma that is attached to being in care which has resulted in Care Experienced people being ashamed and silenced. Care Experienced people now feel proud and have organised this rally to tell people they deserve to be loved."