Hiya! I’m Lys, I’m 23 years old and a final year social work student. I have worked with young people affected by exploitation and in older adults mental health. I’m care experienced, and I have joined Reclaim because I am passionate about dismantling harmful systems through care and community and finding ways to disrupt intergenerational cycles of harm

Hey! Im Isabelle. Im 24 years old and I'm care experienced. I'm currently in my Third Year of University, where I study Drama, Applied Theatre and Education. I’m always challenging the stereotypes and stigmas about us, if that’s the ones created by the media (looking at you Tracy Beaker) or the ones furthered by the general public. I've joined reclaim as I want to reclaim care experienced spaces, stories and our voices

Hi, I'm Kieran, I'm 25 and I'm not care-experienced. I'm a researcher, designer and in my work I facilitate radical social change centred on healing and imagining collective futures. I joined Reclaim because I've seen care-experienced voices, spaces and power be commodified by 'supportive' organisations too often, and I want to help nourish a collective where that can't happen.

Hi, I'm Annie. I graduated with a Combined Honours LLB Law with Psychology degree, from London Southbank University and has 14 years’ experience working with both the corporate and charitable sector executing successful events, workshops and Digital Marketing.

I founded Amour Destiné
to improve the health & wellbeing of black women & girls affected by social economic status to overcome traumatic care experiences and/or of abuse in a safe space. By equipping and empowering them with free services and tools for them to develop confidence and self-belief to live out their ambitions to succeed in life. Led by inspiring black & black mixed-race women with similar experiences.

I created Amour Destiné because of losing my mother at the age of 8 years old, and the experience of learning to push past her own challenges in life, growing up in the UK care system. My desire was to build on my late mother's legacy and create a support service for women born of African and Caribbean heritage to break through barriers.

Trailblazer' in the rights movement for children in care. Founder National Association Young People In Care, developed & Advised NAYPIC 1979-86. Author parliamentary Report 'Sharing Care' created national policies of care experienced people that influenced the 1989 Children's Act. Writer & Film/TV maker. Made the first ever 'care' videos.

Hi, my name is Kieran. I am a 26-year-old care-leaver and was in care from 3 until I aged out at 18. I pursued my bachelor’s degree in Computer Animation and Visualisation, which I received in 2016. For two years, I worked as a game developer for LJMU, developing virtual museum experiences and providing consultation services to regional SMEs. From January 2019, I worked as a PhD Researcher in Medical Simulation Training on a project match funded by The Walton Centre NHS Trust and the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at LJMU.
I am passionate about improving the situation regarding the struggles and stigma care-experienced people and care-leavers face growing up in care and leaving care. I like to get involved with research or consultations. I provide feedback, experiences, and guidance that could improve the quality of care provisions. As an ILM certified mentor, I work with my University to provide advice and support to new researchers. I hope to use mentoring in the future outside of Academia to support care-experienced people and care-leavers.

Hi everyone, my name’s Sophia and I’m a 24 year old care leaver from London. I’m the founder of ‘Who cares about Research?’ www.whocaresaboutresearch.com, an award-winning podcast dedicated to sharing cutting-edge research with the people it most affects. Alongside this I run a YouTube channel (Care Leaver Sophia) and write articles in the national press about debunking care stereotypes. I’ve been asked to speak at some really cool events, including the World Government Summit, and I’m keen to help bring other care experienced people’s voices onto these important platforms

Hi, I'm. Jamie! ​I'm 39 and care experienced in foster care from birth to 18. Following my degree in drama and education, I worked in education, disability, mental health and wellbeing roles that lead me to train in counselling and psychotherapy. I joined Reclaim as I'm passionate about relational activism: the power of community and authentic relationships and dialogue for healing, mutual support, wellbeing and social change.

Hi my name is Narges. I am care experienced and a Newly Qualified Social Worker in the Disabled Children Team. I am also a family friends carer and a mainstream foster carer. I foster because I believe that real changing relationships for children and young people in care takes place in the home environment. I use my unique position and experience to advocate, amplify and empower young people’s voices.

Proud mother of two. Self-employed, Ofsted registered Childminder of 20 years. Residential care from 5 yrs to 16 yrs in 70’s/80’s.

Hey, I am Shaunna. I am 23 years old and care experienced. I am currently a PhD student in psychology and neuroscience at Liverpool John Moores University. I was awarded the Pro-Vice Chancellor Scholarship to undertake a three-year PhD starting in February 2021. The PhD project is named “Pathways to Social-Connectedness in Care Experienced Young People”. This project aims to investigate the psychological and cognitive impact of early life adversities, with special interests around relationships and wider societal connections.

I have a passion for using research to improve the wellbeing and health of care experienced people and to empower them to thrive at life. I have a profound interest in improving standards of social care and I am an active member of several groups which aim to improve standards of care for looked after children. Outside of academia I enjoy advocacy work, I regularly help to raise awareness of the care system by helping to dismantle stigma around being care experienced. I am joining RECLAIM as I want to be part of a safe, supportive and collective space for those care experienced.