Serene Pod | Season 3, Episode 9 - Growing Up in Care & Fighting for Your Rights

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]comment and message me all the time saying, "I'm so worried. I don't know if I'm going to get a house. My PA isn't about." And I'm saying to them, "Call the social workers out. Call the department. Call the local [music] councils because you shouldn't be afraid."

[00:00:16]Hey guys, and welcome to another episode of Serene Pod with myself Mark and >> Selin.

[00:00:21]>> [snorts] >> And yeah, this is another wonderful episode. We have a guest, which is exciting.

[00:00:25]>> Yeah, very exciting.

[00:00:26]>> I'm tired of talking to Selin. I'm joking.

[00:00:29]Thanks, Mark.

[00:00:30]>> talking to Selin.

[00:00:31]>> [laughter] >> But it's always nice to have someone come in and tell their story and use the space the way that we get to use the space.

[00:00:37]Um but first we have to use the space the way we do >> Mhm. and talk about how we've been.

[00:00:43]Selin, how have you been? What's the update? What's been going on?

[00:00:46]Um you know, I feel like I've been waiting to just pause for a moment here on the pod.

[00:00:52]>> Okay, nice. Because I don't feel like I have paused for a little while since the last pod.

[00:00:58]So I feel like I've been waiting just to pause today just to have a moment of reflection. Um it's been very busy, lots going on. Obviously I I mentioned last time that I am in the process of moving um as well. So that is exciting but stressful experience of moving homes. Um so that I'm going through that um and work has been also very very busy but in a good way. So I'm not I'm not complaining about that.

[00:01:29]>> Yeah. Um there we're thinking about lots of other creative projects to do with young people and how we can use creative spaces. So that's what I'm focusing on like the V&A and other creative spaces that we can use and bring young people to. So that's really exciting, especially for summer and stuff like that. So um yeah, lots of exciting stuff. How are you, Mark?

[00:01:51]Yeah, no, I'm all good. I'm all good. Um just busy. We're We're currently potty training. So, that's fun. That's exciting. How's that going? It's good.

[00:02:00]He He's doing well. Like, my son's doing pretty good.

[00:02:03]>> Mhm. Um it's just that yeah, he he didn't like the big toilet, so we had to buy him a small Okay. toilet um which was a It's very interesting my life like I at the day before we got him to use the small toilet.

[00:02:16]>> Mhm.

[00:02:16]I was that night the night before, should I say, I was in the studio with like a Grammy Award-winning artist and we were working on music for hours and hours in this beautiful studio and the next morning I was carrying a toilet um at 7:00 a.m. from >> [laughter] >> from uh as the Argos through Sainsbury's.

[00:02:34]>> Yeah.

[00:02:35]I was literally carrying it all the way home on my shoulder, you know, a little baby toilet. So, it's just the contrast of life, right?

[00:02:42]>> Yes. That's interesting.

[00:02:44]>> The the ebbs and flows and flashes and different things. So, yeah, but I I'm good like I I'm working a lot, which is good, and um excited for what's to come in general, but not just in life, also on this pod because we have a very exciting guest. We do? I'm going to let Selina do the intro. I'm going to steal her shine. Yes.

[00:03:05]So, we have a great young lady who is inspirational and I'm very very happy that we've connected and I had the honor to meet her. Um but it is the first time I'm meeting her in person, so I'm very excited about that as well.

[00:03:19]And I'm excited that she's chosen to come on our pod and share her story and she's found this is a safe space for her. So, I'm very excited and honored that we have lovely Shannon here.

[00:03:32]Welcome. Welcome.

[00:03:34]>> Hello.

[00:03:35]How are you, Shannon? How are you feeling? Yeah, I'm good. I'm good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Feeling relaxed. You don't need to be nervous. You can be as chill as you need to be.

[00:03:42]>> Thank you. You can be as open and as free as you need to be. This is This is supposed to be like a space where it's like real chill and Yeah, you guys are so I feel chill. Thank you. Thank you.

[00:03:53]>> [laughter] >> So I guess the first thing would be I guess for for us and everybody else just kind of getting to know you what you [clears throat] do and a bit about your background. So if you could just tell us who is Shannon?

[00:04:07]Let us know. So I my name is Shannon and I'm from a small town called Shrewsbury.

[00:04:13]Not a lot of people will know where that is but it's quite a small town. It's in West Midlands.

[00:04:19]And what I'm trying to do is I'm trying to create um opportunities to speak about the care system cuz it's often not spoken about enough. As a child who was in the care system essentially I want to spread awareness. So I basically created a booklet to help people be educated on um what is entailed in the care system. So a lot of the time the care system isn't really understood in the correct way because it's a lot of language barriers because like social workers and professional language. So yeah that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to spread awareness my own lived experience really. I love that.

[00:04:58]Cuz also we work with a lot of young people in care and there's a lot of young people in care that watch the pod.

[00:05:03]So I think it's really useful for you to come on and share what you're trying to do with them so they know where they can go when they need support or anything or if they've got any questions. Also you can pop us the questions on the comments and then you can ask Shannon after if needed as well.

[00:05:20]So I think it's amazing what you're doing and trying to do.

[00:05:24]Obviously we've worked with lots of young people that have been in care and weirdly enough the experience vary. You know some people are like oh my gosh I had so much fun or you know there was yeah really does vary and then some people are like oh no I didn't enjoy my time or I enjoyed my time when I moved or changed or this changed.

[00:05:43]What would you say your experience was like in care? Like how did you find the overall experience for you? Um I'm going to put it, you know, as honest as I can. Um I wasn't the most underprivileged um within the care system. I will say there are a lot more people out there who have had worse experience than me. I mean, I was quite fortunate where I had um foster parents who were really nice. They took me to Cyprus.

[00:06:09]So, I mean, I had good and bad experiences. So, um for the one good social worker I had, I had a bad social worker. Um for the good experience in my foster home, I didn't have a good experience in my semi-independent. So, it's more of a um flip-flop, really. Like, I had good and I had bad. So, I wasn't the worst, but I wasn't the best. So, you know, I'm quite grateful for like what um what I did have, which is the bare minimum, but yeah.

[00:06:38]So, I guess I'll ask then, just for context for the for the listeners, for the people that don't necessarily understand or know or have uh yeah, a view of what it's like to be in care.

[00:06:48]What would you describe as like a good experience or something that could be a good experience in care? And then, what would you describe as like a bad experience or a bad social worker? Like, what what What's good and what's bad?

[00:06:59]>> Yeah, what does that look like? So, for example, I'd say um for starters, having a place that which isn't up to standard.

[00:07:07]So, I know there are some children within the care system that have been in mold-infested places, um really cramped places, you know?

[00:07:16]And for example, where I went, it was really nice. I had my own bedroom, you know, it was carpeted. I had a bed. So, I was really fortunate in that way. So, that's sort of a good experience in care. But also, um having nice foster parents. I mean, I was quite fortunate where I had nice foster parents. They weren't um too pushy.

[00:07:38]Um they were understanding, but I know a lot of kids out there do struggle to connect with foster parents, so that was kind of the good side of the fostering, but then with a social worker, um so for example, I had um a really young social worker at one point. Her name was Beth.

[00:07:58]Um and we got along like a house on fire. Like we used to listen to J Hus in the car.

[00:08:03]Honestly, like she was just like really like in my age range, but then you know, everyone would say, "Oh, she's too young." But then when I had an older social worker, she didn't connect with me at all. She really didn't make the effort, so I've had good and I've had bad experiences.

[00:08:18]So I'd say a good social worker is someone that takes time to actually relate to the child that they're working with rather than just doing a job. Does that make sense? Yeah, it does. It does.

[00:08:29]So recently I saw a TikTok of a young girl being picked up from somewhere, an appointment or school. Um the [clears throat] social worker picked her up in a convertible. Wow. I don't know if you've seen this.

[00:08:43]Um and she filmed it and she was like, "I love my social worker. Like she's bringing me on a ride in a comfortable car and she allowed me to play my music." And I was like, "Oh, that's a great moment of bonding."

[00:08:55]>> It's just a simple thing.

[00:08:56]>> Exactly. Like even with my social worker Beth, um we literally bonded bonded over J Hus. I mean, I was like 15 years old.

[00:09:03]She was like 24, 26, I think. And just because she had that little familiarity with Beth, then it made me feel a bit more comfortable with her.

[00:09:11]You know, like I didn't have to shut myself up and I don't know like if it's even spoken enough about, but I feel like when it comes to social workers and working with children, there's also like a class divide because like usually like the children that are involved in the care sector usually low-income families.

[00:09:30]So like there is that um hard like space in the middle trying to bond when you're both from two completely different worlds. And a lot of people that are in social work or are qualified as social workers have had reasonable upbringings.

[00:09:45]So, it's quite hard to find that common middle ground to actually be able to relate because obviously from my low-income background, I always got told don't speak to police, don't speak to teachers, don't speak to social workers.

[00:09:58]So, I found it really hard to actually open up. And I think a lot of kids that are from low-income background, I mean especially police, I mean here quite a lot, don't you? But with social workers as well, it's like just don't speak to them, can't trust them. So, that's sort of my experience with local authorities and police and stuff like that.

[00:10:17]>> Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Even for us working with young people, we still need to find a common ground on how we connect with young people when we work with them as well, don't we, Mark? I think it's interesting. I think I guess cuz I'm from the the background and have experienced a lot of the things, I find the reason I got into work with young people is because I related to them. Yeah.

[00:10:39]Exactly. I found myself in spaces where I was with people that I was like, I don't know. What are you talking about? Like, I don't relate to you at all. Um so, I think that's interesting.

[00:10:49]I was even going to say, you know, cuz I I imagine obviously what that social worker did for that that young person, that must be nice. But does that or have you seen that ever cause like having a good social worker or having kind of some level of privilege, does that ever cause animosity amongst the young people, you know, is it something that is, you know, is there any kind of jealousy that arises or any like conflict, you know? I do feel um in the care sector because obviously don't forget we're damaged before we go in that I don't like to use the word damaged, but essentially we have been through stuff before we've entered the care system.

[00:11:28]So, our emotions aren't exactly well equipped. Like, I know don't know if you like have worked with young people, but a lot of them don't know how to deal with their emotions properly. So they end up getting in like bad situations. They end up, you know, arguing, being violent, end up drugs, you know, county lines and stuff like that. Like you can end up getting in a bad way if you're not supported. Of course. Yeah, I agree with that. Wow, that's I found it really interesting. Obviously we we, you know, we've worked with several young people that are kind of in care or transitioning and stuff like that.

[00:12:05]Um What would you say is kind of your the the kind of big um moments of kind of turning points and experiences that you had within care that kind of made you say, "I need to create this book. I need to create some kind of guide." Well, I'll tell you my my big experiences within the care system. So one of the first was when I actually went into my foster home. Um my third day in there, I actually was I actually cried um cuz I actually realized that I wasn't coming back home.

[00:12:36]So I'd say that was quite significant.

[00:12:38]And then um I ended up going um back home to my family home. The placement broke down again. Then I had to go into semi-independence cuz I was too old for fostering.

[00:12:49]Um and then that was a big moment for me as well. I mean, going into your own flat bed set at 16 off £48 a week was really hard. I mean, I was studying in college to do travel and tourism, but I had to drop out because going from, you know, being doted on in the care system, like constantly being packed to then being like in your own flat. Honestly, I've never felt so lonely. And I had to learn how to like cook. I had to learn how to wash up. I had to learn how to like advocate for myself because they do expect a lot from you. And then you can actually fall into a little bit of a depression because I had so many people around me like I was in schools, I was getting pulled out of lessons, being spoken to, you know, constant meetings, you know, constant social workers around and then to go into that semi-independent where I'm pretty much alone.

[00:13:39]It was hard and because I was naturally quite mature and I wasn't as, you know, wild as some other care leavers, they sort of left me by myself and I think that's quite dangerous because, you know, even though I was quite responsible and I was mature on the outside, I actually got myself into bad situations, but they would never have known because I was so smart and I was so good at hiding things and I felt like that really shaped me as a person and when these kids are in semi-independent, it's really important to get them in some sort of community because they can lose that ideology. Like when you're like, you know, from I'd say from about 10 to like 18, you're constantly dreaming about what it is you want to do to have that next stage in life and if you're actually not nurturing that in a child, then they can end up in bad situations and then when they're in when they're in that semi-independent, they're by themselves, you know, carers checking once in a blue moon. It's not like a parent where, you know, you're constantly on them.

[00:14:43]So I feel like that was quite significant and then moving into my own place, I feel like that was really lonely.

[00:14:55]Eventually, I had my own place. I turned 18 in COVID and because I was in a little town, there actually wasn't no council flats. So I actually ended up going private and that was one of the worst decisions of my life. I'm not going to lie, when you're a young girl and you're in a flat in a three-story house, you know, it can it can be quite hard because, you know, people are judging you, you know, you're young, you want to, you know, go out and have fun with your friends. So I felt like that was quite lonely but eventually the council did provide me with a council flat because every care leaver is entitled to a council flat.

[00:15:33]So I did did eventually have one which I'm ever so settled in now. I mean I've got a lovely driveway, I've got a garden, I've got neighbors that literally don't want me. So I'm in a really good place now. But I'd say like each stage that you know you have to move so from like foster home to then semi-independent independently it's quite big and like you constantly fight or flight mode. And like by the time that I was 21 all my friends had finished uni, all my friends had had kids and I was just like oh my god what do I do? Like I failed in college. I didn't get the GCSEs that I wanted because I'd moved halfway through my GCSEs.

[00:16:11]So I was a bit I was a bit stuck and I didn't want to work a 9-5 because not there's anything wrong with that but because you know I'm quite a free spirit person and all the trauma that I'd been through I wanted to work at something that made a difference. So when I was actually trying to figure out what I wanted to do first of all I thought college um because you know I wanted to get my maths and my English which I missed out on. So I eventually found out that I missed the chance of second education at 21. So I was just finding all these things out like I got to an age where I was like do you know what I want to not use but I want to you know get as much help as I can because I had my PA and she was saying you've got to engage with us because when you've hit 18 a lot of kids know that when you get a PA you actually have to engage with them yourself. So if the kids not being encouraged to engage and the support's not going to be there but at 21 I was like I'm getting what I need out of the system and then I found out I needed I found out I missed out on um second opportunity to education at 21. So, eventually went back to college and I was just gathering so much information.

[00:17:22]I wanted to get a career, but I was like, what do I do? But, then I also had um people that um are in my family that are also in the care system as well, unfortunately, which are younger than me. So, they'd come and ask me questions and I'd be like, "Make sure you say this. Make sure you get that.

[00:17:39]Make sure you get this." And like I was looking online like I seen digital marketing was a big thing.

[00:17:45]And then I seen Canva and I was like, I'm going to fiddle with this. And then I just had the weird idea, not weird, but amazing. Amazing idea to put everything that I learned into a book because it's so hard to understand. I was like, "Why don't I write it in terms that children or anyone that's not been educated as social worker can actually understand?" So, like I fiddled around with it first. So, I was like, I wanted to get the rights and entitlements. And that is so hard to find. I did like 7 months of pure graft trying to find out what every single care kids entitled to.

[00:18:21]So, I had to look on all the local offers. I had to get um information from DWP. I did a lot of studying. I'd say that was like the main bit that I struggled with was finding out rights and entitlements cuz they're not stated um in the correct way, I think, personally. And then I um eventually got on TikTok. I wanted to gather some information because I could have started on LinkedIn. I could have started on Facebook, but I wanted to connect with the kids.

[00:18:49]Uh and I know TikTok's quite um a good platform to get um support from. Yeah.

[00:18:53]Support from. So, I started asking questions on there and then I had people message me giving me information. So, I did loads of study on it and then eventually you know, I got it to the end where I had, you know, pathway plans involved because the pathway plans that we usually get given as care leavers are so boring. They're not enticing at all. The questions are really inhumane. I don't know if you've seen it.

[00:19:17]There was a BBC documentary a couple of years ago. It's about kids in care.

[00:19:21]And they showed the actual realities of what the questions are that they ask.

[00:19:25]And it's it's awful. Being through it myself, it's just inhumane asking kids to rate on a scale of 1 to 10 how they're feeling. So, I basically redesigned it to basically fit in an engaging way to encourage kids to be excited about their future. So, not only that, I did like education and training page where what explains what college is, what what's apprenticeship, you know, what's a career. And then there's other things like helplines, like tips on moving independently. So, basically everything that they need to know is in this booklet. So, not only is it information though, I wanted to do it so kids could advocate for themselves in a professional way because they're not taught to. So, if they had this booklet given to them when they are first engaged in the care system, then they could actually know that there is support out there. They could actually write notes in specific meetings because there's meetings coming out your ears.

[00:20:25]As a child in care, as care leavers. So, if they had that personal document where they could, you know, brainstorm and, you know, have workers write into it.

[00:20:33]And once they write into it, like people don't realize pathway plans are legally binding documents. So, if a worker's written in that and signed it, they legally have to oblige to the commitment.

[00:20:45]Yeah, basically I just I basically learned everything that I learned in the care system, I basically put it in the book so everybody else could understand.

[00:20:53]And then I posted it eventually. Um I was super embarrassed. Um when I actually first started posting on TikTok, I actually blocked half my town.

[00:21:02]Yeah, I blocked half my town. So, I was like, "No one's was to catch me lacking."

[00:21:06]Um >> [laughter] >> but yeah, eventually I posted for a week and I was like, "Oh, this isn't going anywhere. So, people are going to laugh at me." So, then I moaned about my life story.

[00:21:15]Um But, eventually it blew up. Mhm. It got like 138,000 views and then like 700 plus comments and like people from like police, midwifery, teachers, you know, social workers saying, "This is really needed." So, it just gave me that, you know, >> Yeah. realization and commitment and Mhm. what I needed to do, really. So, I just I just went along with it and then I kept posting and then, you know, eventually I've actually I've actually made a career out of it. And, you know, to think 6 months ago I was just in college figuring out what it is I wanted to do to now where I'm being like booked for talks. I'm like going around the country. Like, I've sold over 100 booklets so far.

[00:21:56]>> Wow. Amazing.

[00:21:58]>> [laughter] >> Thanks. I've got 100 plus so far. So, yeah, and I ended up on the BBC in my local area, the Canary. Yeah. So, yeah, I've had some really good opportunities.

[00:22:09]>> love that. I love that. And also, the fact that we're in the space of working with young people, I totally can understand why they need it. Yeah. So, like, I know that there's so many of my young people that move from one place to another place to another place to another place and they never settle because they don't know when they're moving next.

[00:22:32]Um and they don't even know what's coming around the corner and their pathway plans and all of that, they don't know what it means. Yeah.

[00:22:39]>> a lot, I mean. It's a lot of information.

[00:22:42]>> in fight or flight mode cuz they're constantly getting moved. They're constantly meeting new people. Like, how? We're taught in life, you know, stranger danger, don't talk to strangers. But, yeah, children in the care system are constantly being spoken to by strangers. So, it's like, how can that correlate with the ideologies of society? It's just It's just overall the care system just needs relooking at. I mean, I think it's quite hypocritical for the government to send out social workers to not judge, but I understand in some cases where there's severe things going on and stuff like that. But to go into low-income families and to say there needs to be a standard of care, but there's not a standard of care in their own practice. I think it's actually quite hypocritical.

[00:23:27]Like if you're going to be taking on the most vulnerable children in society, then you need to make sure that your own plans of support are in action and are suitable because you can't go around essentially not judging, but you know, being like you know, top dog, you know, what to do and then not having the same practice in your own place. I think it's actually quite hypocritical. So, there needs to be some element of support because it's like postcode lottery at the moment. I don't know if you've heard about postcode lottery.

[00:23:55]Each sector and each council has got different um different um policies. So, for example, like in some areas, you can do driving lessons and some areas you can't. I mean, I know a lot of people would say, you know, why do they deserve driving lessons, you know? But I'm not being funny. Like if as parents, if I had a child, I'd want to pay for their driving lessons. I'd want to make sure my child has the best support possible. So, why shouldn't care leavers have the opportunity to excel? I'm not saying they should get everything handed to them on a plate, but we actually really get nothing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow.

[00:24:30]Hey guys, thank you for watching another great episode of the Serene Pod. Make sure you like and subscribe. Hit that bell, that notification button so that you know when every episode comes out.

[00:24:39]See you soon.

[00:24:41]From all your research and your understanding, it would be great to know what the most common not necessarily misconceptions, but what are the what are the the main or the most important do you think rights that young people should know about that they have as care leavers?

[00:24:59]Like what are the things maybe two or three things you're like you need this?

[00:25:03]Um having um council tax T25.

[00:25:08]Um um care leavers are not um legally obliged to pay council tax.

[00:25:14]Obviously why would you be paying into the same people that are looking after?

[00:25:18]Um housing as well. I think that's a big thing um when it comes to housing. So council tax, housing and also a PA. Um not a lot of um care leavers know that you can utilize PAs. I know they're not around as much as they should be, you know.

[00:25:35]They're over you know over um over saturated at the moment cuz a lot of people are working in this sector but I feel like PAs are quite a big thing because even though they don't know everything, they can give you that support in actually getting into certain places. So definitely I would say council tax because it saves these kids money when they're living in the community because not a lot of kids live by themselves at 18. It is really expensive so if they're being charged for council tax as well, that's another worry they have to worry about. And then having to find a placement at 18. Like I have you know kids comment and message me all the time saying I'm so worried. I don't know if I'm going to get a house.

[00:26:15]My PA isn't about. And I'm saying to them call these social workers out. Call the department. Call the local councils because you shouldn't be afraid to actually state that you are entitled to this support. So I feel like money with council tax um with housing situations and support. I feel like those are the three basics.

[00:26:35]>> Yeah. And then once you have a PA and you say to them you know I want to know what support there is out there, then they have to legally tell you what support there is out there. So that can lead to another sector that can lead to getting the support that's needed. So for the ones that don't know what PA is, what is PA?

[00:26:52]>> Oh PA is a personal advisor, so um you get a personal advisor when you turn, I think it's I think it's 17 or 16.

[00:27:00]>> Um basically to advise you um when it comes to the next stage in your life, basically. Which I think it's a bit too young. I mean, I was only really ready to engage when I was like 21.

[00:27:13]>> Mhm. Um so, it was quite difficult to actually find that common ground at first, but um a PA is someone who can help you with like reading bills, you know, monthly meetups, you know, um telling you what the local offer is, doing pathway plans with you. So, a pathway plan is basically a plan with a young person to basically plan ahead a little bit. So, for example, if the young person has just left school like, you know, going to college, they can put that in their pathway plan. Okay. Um basically a plan between a PA and a young person to actually know what direction they're kind of going in, but with my booklet that I've created, I've created it in a fun way because a lot of the time it's boring. Yeah, it's Yeah, it's really boring. Yeah.

[00:27:58]Okay.

[00:27:58]>> [clears throat] >> The The last question cuz this is really interesting, I think, even for me.

[00:28:02]There's a lot to go on about. I could talk all day.

[00:28:04]No, but it's it's great. I feel like it's a good um you're given like a great overview of stuff that maybe we don't consider, especially with uh young people leaving care. Like, I've worked in semi-independent um um houses or like uh like flats and stuff like that. And it's Yeah, there's some stuff that we don't really think about. It's tough. It's tough. I mean, even for the independent ones, you know, they struggle a lot with loneliness.

[00:28:32]You know, a lot of their friends are in college, you know, having that support in the next stages, you know. My life was so up and down that I didn't even go to prom. Um I missed out on prom because, you know, I was focused on where I was going to live. My hands were constantly in fight or flight, so They are constantly in survival mode at mode either. I mean, anyone at 16, 17, 18, it's hard to live alone and it's really expensive and it's isolating. I mean, from going to having constant attention to not, it's really difficult.

[00:29:01]So, yeah, semi-independent, uh I think there needs to be more support in place for kids in them situations.

[00:29:09]>> That's what I was going to ask. What would you say or I guess the last thing I wanted to ask was what would be your advice to young people that are you know, leaving care, maybe going into semi-independent or going into full independence. What would be your advice for a young person that was in your position?

[00:29:25]>> Don't be afraid to pack a hat. And I mean that as in, don't be afraid to constantly call the social worker's office. Don't be constantly afraid to call your PA or double text your PA because that is what they're there for.

[00:29:37]They get paid to do the job that they're doing. So, if you've got questions and your PA isn't about, there should be a duty worker or someone in in the head office of the local your local council social services. So, if the one person isn't answering, don't be afraid to contact the next because at the end of the day, you're entitled to this support. So, go out and get it.

[00:30:02]Even though you shouldn't really as care leavers shouldn't be have to venture for it out, but until there is more funding and until there is more people working in this sector, then just don't be afraid to annoy these people and get them what you rightly deserve. I mean, in a you know, a reasonable manner.

[00:30:20]You know, that's exactly why I created the booklet as well because, you know, even when I was calling up these duty workers, I'd be put from left, right, another department. By the end, I was burnt out.

[00:30:31]I was, you know, I was effing Jeffing and I was saying, "I just want to know, you know, I just want to know what Answer the question. Like, why am I going through a million departments?" But, that's exactly why I created that booklet, so it's easier access. So, I know it is stressful trying to find out the right information from all these different departments, but don't be afraid to ask.

[00:30:52]Yeah. That's great. I love that advice, and I think there's a lot of young people that are watching. Exactly, that need to hear that. Where can they find your booklet? Uh so, basically, I am on all social media platforms. I do have my own website as well. It's called Future for Care Leavers.

[00:31:11]And you can find my booklet from my website. There's two options, so you can actually buy the booklet on Amazon called My Rights, My Life. But if it's too expensive, I actually have done a PDF version on my website, cuz I know, you know, not everyone has £20, cuz essentially, you know, when I first started this business, I didn't want to charge the kids in the system. But because it's just me, you know, I've got to, you know, make money somehow, cuz I've made I put so much money into it, you know? And I wouldn't charge these kids, but what I want to do is get it to councils, schools. But for now, it's on my website, and it's on Amazon. It's called My Rights, My Life, so that's where you can get it.

[00:31:55]>> Great. And what's your socials as well?

[00:31:58]How can they find you? It's Future for Care Leavers. It's the same as everything. TikTok, Facebook, Instagram. Yeah, I'm all the same name, but I say TikTok is a less factual, but if you want a more professional, then Facebook, Instagram.

[00:32:15]But TikTok is more like my personal journey, because on my TikTok journey, I didn't want to like be super factual. I wanted it like I wanted it so kids can relate. Like, no one wants no one wants a sob story.

[00:32:28]So, I'm trying to like even even if I am having a winge on there, you know, I am I am, you know, working towards I'm getting the information, you know? No one likes to hear people whinge about doing something at the end. So, like TikTok is more like, you know, more in the moment, you know, just keeping it real because not a lot of people do.

[00:32:46]Like, I know so many people that are care leavers that are social workers that are so afraid to say they're from the care sector. But, actually, we shouldn't be afraid where we come from.

[00:32:57]Like, I feel like as well, like in the care community, it's so severely underrepresented.

[00:33:03]I feel like any other any other groups that have been through hardship times, for example, like LGBTQ, the black community, you know, anyone that's been through hardship has that recognition. But, I feel like when it comes to kids in care, I feel like almost like a taboo subject. Like, it's like I don't know how to explain it. Like, people don't like to talk about it because they're like, "Oh my god, it's like your parents said." Or like, "Have your parents leave you?" And it's like it's quite a difficult subject to discuss, but actually, there's kids like me who all wanted to talk about it. But, I don't want to constantly talk about it in a negative light because there's so many charities that want care leavers to come in to talk about their lives in almost a sob story. But, that's not the journey what I want. I want to show that you can use negative experiences to make a positive. So, like 6 months ago, I was just in college. I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do.

[00:33:58]But, now I'm doing talks about my own lived experience. I've created a resource. So, it's about giving care leavers that space to actually have the opportunities to talk about their experience, to actually be compensated in the correct way for their experiences, and to actually have the right to excel because, you know, one in three care leavers are homeless. 25% of them end up with mental health issues.

[00:34:19]So, the statistics are there. Like, the government's just I think they're doing a research into the deaths of so many care leavers because it's hit an all-time high. So, there is an urgent need for community and representation.

[00:34:34]So, when I was trying to be, you know, trying to figure out my little path to success, I was trying to look for other care leavers. And there was only a few.

[00:34:42]I mean, Sonya Nessa, she's on the BBC Waterloo Road. She's doing amazing. She actually spoke to me. You know, there's my my good friend, one of the first people to help me on TikTok was Sam.

[00:34:58]He does a lot about the foster care system. So, there are people out there.

[00:35:02]It's just actually having a platform because, you know, these companies, they say they want to help these kids, but, you know, when the resources are there and then when the kids are actually there to want to do better, no one's there. I mean, even in my own local council, I found it really hard for them to actually support me because there's just not the resources, there's not the money, there's not enough people in there to actually support it. And in my journey, you know, if I had a magic wand in 5 years time, I want to get my booklet everywhere. But, um, I want to actually employ care leavers because you know, I can tell my story as much as I can, but I'm a white British girl from the countryside. Not everyone is going to relate to me. So, I want to actually employ care leavers to go around the country with me to actually tell their story because I do feel that every person in the care system deserves to be listened to. If they want to, you know, some kids want to put an end to the chapter on that, which I absolutely respect. Don't want to talk about it again. But, there are people like me that actually want to use their negative experiences to make it a positive. So, if I actually employ care leavers, then they can trust me because I know there are a lot of people out there that exploit their stories and get offered like £25 Amazon vouchers, which is Yeah, it's not, you know, it is lived experience. It is, you know, using that experience to help others and to create awareness, you know, a lot of AA, you know, people they have people in there that, you know, work for these companies that have been through these experiences, you know? So, why not have care leavers in the space, especially people like me, like I'm in 24, but I still feel like they look at me as a kid, when actually I I'm quite smart, I know what I'm on about, I've I've been through it, I know how to help these kids. So, why am I not ultimately being given the chance?

[00:36:52]Because before I actually started this business, I actually wanted to be a care leaver ambassador within my local council, but they turned me down because I wasn't in fixed employment. They said, "Oh, no, we can't have you." Which I can understand.

[00:37:07]But, you know, I was gunning for it, I really wanted to be a part of that, and like they turned me down, and not everyone has the resilience that I do.

[00:37:14]So, why couldn't they say to me, you know, "Oh, we'll do we'll get you some training in for the next year, you know, we'll support you with doing this."

[00:37:21]There wasn't that element of support, and it's like I was disheartened. So, now I say to my council, you have to pay me to come in. So, they missed out on a good opportunity of like actually employing me.

[00:37:32]So, yeah, kids deserve to do well, even if they're not at that stage where they fit in quote-unquote these boxes. If they actually want to do well, then why aren't they supporting that? So, yeah.

[00:37:42]But, I think that's great though, cuz when one door shuts, another one opens, and you didn't get that, but you're being an ambassador for yourself and for other young people, and that's made you create this resource, which is really great. And we will tag it on this episode as well below when when we post it, and we'll share her socials as well.

[00:38:03]And I think you're inspirational. I think it's great what you're doing, and I think everyone should reach out, and yeah, definitely look at Shannon's socials and resources. I think all the social workers out there need to know that this is available for them as well.

[00:38:18]Um yeah, I agree. I was even going to say I would love to support and buy a couple of copies.

[00:38:24]>> Definitely. I've actually got a copy with me, so I'll actually show you after.

[00:38:28]Yeah.

[00:38:29]If I could get a couple of copies, we'll leave them here for those watching. If you want a copy, we'll have a couple of copies. Reach out.

[00:38:36]>> Yeah, yeah, definitely. We'll be able to kind of send you a copy. Any takeaways?

[00:38:40]Yes, my takeaway is I feel very like inspired is the word, but I feel like I feel very grateful that you've chosen to come on and share your story. And but I also feel like I'm so happy that you decided to go down this path and I think it's very very needed and I'm in the space working with social workers and young people in care and I know that this is desperately needed for them. So I'm I feel very grateful. That's my takeaway. Yours? Yeah, I mean, mine quite simple. Play J Hus when you're with a young person. Yeah.

[00:39:16]>> [laughter] >> It's great.

[00:39:19]I do I do I commend you. I commend everything you're doing and I think you're doing amazing work in that world and yeah, however we can support we're more than happy to. Thank you. I love what you guys are doing as well. I mean, I've watched a couple of episodes on your podcast and even giving Cali was like me an opportunity, you know, bring me down in a fancy car today. I mean, I've never been in a Range Rover like I have today. So I just really appreciate you actually looking after me and I always share your post cuz I absolutely love watching your podcast.

[00:39:50]So I always watch it about 7:00 when we dinner. So yeah, honestly, thank you.

[00:39:54]We'll make sure they're playing J Hus on the way back. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:39:57]>> [laughter] >> Yeah, I had a really amazing time. Thank you for coming. And um yeah, so that's it for today's episode. We hope you've enjoyed it. Until next time. [music] Until next time.

[00:40:22]>> Mhm.