Chanté's Law: A Campaign To Prevent Future DeathsHow The Loss Of An Autistic Loved One Sparked A National Campaign
In late 2025, a grieving family in Eastbourne sparked a campaign that has begun to capture national attention and outrage; not just for the devastating loss of their daughter, Chanté, but for the glaring systemic gap her death exposed in how vulnerable adults are protected in supported housing. This push for reform has been named “Chanté’s Law”: a drive to bring all supported accommodation under the oversight of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body that inspects health and adult social care services in England. A Bright Life Lost Too SoonChanté Lloyd-Buckingham was described by her family as a bright, creative young woman with a sharp wit and a deep love of cats. She lived in supported accommodation because of the daily challenges she faced connected to being Autistic, including speech and language processing difficulties. The support she received in her accommodation should have been a foundation of safety and care. Instead, when she was in crisis, she was left alone for hours without adequate response; 18 hours, according to those campaigning on her behalf, with no one from the provider checking on her until a family member called in the morning. This failure of basic care culminated in her death in August. Her parents have been crystal in their frustration and grief; they didn’t lose their daughter to an unforeseeable accident, but to what they see as preventable neglect in a system that lacked accountability and scrutiny. Unsupported by Oversight: A Regulatory GapThe heart of the campaign for Chanté’s Law lies in a regulatory blind spot, supported accommodation providers are currently not routinely inspected or rated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the way residential care homes or hospitals are. This means there’s no consistent public assurance about the quality and safety of the support vulnerable adults receive in these settings, even though public funds often pay for that support. This is a difference between a system where care and safety are transparent and enforced, and one where rightsholders, the residents, may be entirely dependent on unmonitored providers. Chanté’s family argue that this regulatory gap allowed inadequate support practices to persist, without meaningful inspection, rating, or accountability. Chanté’s Law: What Change Is Being Sought?The campaign seeks a clear legislative and regulatory fix; extend CQC oversight to cover all supported accommodation providers. That means regular inspections, public ratings, and enforcement powers when standards slip, similar to what exists for care homes, mental health services, and hospitals. The tragedy of Chanté’s death has turned into a plea for future protection; if these services are going to support vulnerable adults, they must be transparent in quality and accountable when they fail. Advocates argue that without such oversight, similar tragedies could occur again. A Petition To Strengthen RegulationAt the centre of this moment of mobilisation is a petition on the UK Parliament’s official platform calling for this very reform, to ensure supported accommodation is monitored, inspected, and rated by the CQC. You can view and sign the petition here: The petition has already gathered more than 20,000 signatures. Reaching 100,000 signatures would mean the issue could be considered for debate in Parliament, a concrete step toward statutory change. Human Stories Fueling Policy ChangeBeyond the statistics and legislative language, Chanté’s Law is powered by the voices of families and advocates who have seen systemic failures firsthand. Social media groups and community forums have shared grief, frustration, and calls for action, making the campaign not just about one tragedy, but about protecting all vulnerable adults who rely on supported housing. These aren’t abstract policy discussions. They are stories of human lives with dreams, vulnerabilities, and relationships; families who want to ensure that the loss of a loved one like Chanté leads to safeguards that protect others. Why It MattersIn a just system, the quality of support shouldn’t depend on geography, budget, or luck. When public money funds support, public accountability should follow. Chanté’s Law isn’t just a tribute to one life; it’s a push for a society where accountability and dignity are foundations, not luxuries. You're currently a free subscriber to David Gray-Hammond. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Saturday, 10 January 2026
Chanté's Law: A Campaign To Prevent Future Deaths
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