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Name: | Jade Ward |
Age: | 24 |
Year of the Fix: | 2013 |
Location: | York |
Campaign: | Challenging negative perceptions of young people leaving care |
I think too many people believe life in care is a chaotic and negative experience, and that those leaving the care system are unlikely to achieve very much.
At the age of 13 I was living in foster care. Now 24 and part way through a degree, I don’t think I’d be at university without the support and encouragement from my foster carer.
With my Fixers project, I want to challenge the negative perceptions people have of care leavers and show that we can have aspirations and achieve brilliant things too.
I’m looking at making a film to highlight the positive side of life in care and hope that it will challenge the stereotype of care leavers as lazy underachievers.
Here is a list of Fixers helping me with my Fix:
Rebecca Hunter | Tony Brazier | Abbie Pouley |
Tanita Arnold | Jessica Foster | Adam Skinning |
Rebecca Nuttall | Abigail Aboateng | Adrienne Lindsell |
Amy Charlton | Sarah Hardman | Amy Charlton |
Katie Warren | James Brown | Cara Graham |
Marc Freeman | Conor McPherson | Katie Knowles |
Khaled Abdugani | Lilian Haworth | Salem Alquait |
Sally Foster | Sarah Hardman | Benjamin Carty |
Katie Knowles |
Harriet Guhirwa from Catch 22 - National Care Leavers’ Advisory Service
Harriet supports my Fixers project. She was interviewed for my broadcast piece for ITV News.
My university supports my Fixers project. Some of the scenes that feature in my broadcast piece for ITV News were filmed there.
December 2013
The other care leavers featured in my Fixers film enjoyed their experience working on the project and had some really positive things to say:
'I thought it was brilliant!'
'I really enjoyed filming with everyone. It was great fun and enlightening to know that other people feel the same way as I do about leaving care. I feel inspired and I'm looking forward to showing it to my local authority with the aim of inspiring others.'
'Oh my god it's amazing and I love it. Thank you for letting us participate in it!'
'Thank you for giving us the chance to be a part of this.'
Members of the public have also left encouraging feedback in regards to my film, some of which you can read below.
Marlene
'What an amazing video, talk about taking a lead! Wonderful.'
Mick
'A positive message, what a refreshing change! Well done!'
Joe
'A great little video which says so much more than all the thousands of reports written every week by well-intentioned professionals. Well done to everyone involved in the making of this video.'
Sue
'Such a powerful and emotive film. I really liked the way the negative perceptions were challenged and it ended so positively. Well done to all involved, you are an inspiration to all young people.'
David
'I love this video because this is what I have always believed regardless of all the negatives.'
October 2013
After my broadcast story appeared on ITV News, here's what TCAC Edinburgh had to say:
'What an inspiring short film. Celebrating positive achievements of care leavers and challenging negative stereotypes. We know how amazing you all are.'
Fixers
Timothy Cranfield
Hafsa Ur-Rehman
Becky
Olivia G
Mason Latey
Sam Womack
Jo Quinn
Macauley Collinson
Hannah Baker
Becky Thorn
Tilly and Bella
Shannon Rawlings
Ethan Mcinally
Chelsie Brown
Hannah Carter
Jack H
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
Fern Lulham
Meghann