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Name: | Kyle Simmons |
Age: | 23 |
Year of the Fix: | 2009 |
Location: | Essex |
Campaign: | To stop others from taking the path that leads to drink and drugs |
I went into care when I was three-years-old and spent my childhood moving between 14 different placements in care homes and foster families. It was a very difficult time and I felt extremely isolated. I was a young black boy who was in care and everyone seemed to look down on me which really hurt.
I was sent to therapy so that I could talk about my feelings but it didn’t work because I didn’t think they could help; they hadn’t been through what I was going through so how could they help?
I started drinking a long time before I was legally allowed too, and began to take a cocktail of drugs from weed and cocaine to E’s. It started to destroy my mind and I got to the point where I was getting hallucinations even when I wasn’t high.
A lot of young people in care turn to drink and drugs, but it doesn’t help, it only makes things worse. I looked at my life and decided that taking drugs and drinking everyday was not getting me anywhere. I was lucky that I was able to stop. What really helped was expressing myself through dance, music and acting, and I eventually managed to get into the prestigious East 15 Acting School at the age of 19.
As a Fixer I created a music video for my track ‘Keep Dreaming’. It's about trying to achieve your dreams in life no matter where you’ve come from and I want it to inspire other young people growing up in care.
Since then, I've graduated with a BA (Hons) in Physical Theatre. I've worked in theatre and TV/film, as well as writing and producing my own music. I was shortlisted for a Spirit of London Award, and am involved in the political arena, helping change legislation in Parliament and speaking at Westminster. I am an Ambassador for the Care Leavers Foundation, Care Leavers Association, The SOLA Foundation and Speaker Box.
June 2011
Following my Fixers project, I have gone on to become a singer and actor. One of my appearances was on Newsround where I talked to the team behind CBBC series Tracy Beaker about the realities of growing up in care.
You can read about my story and watch the clip by clicking this link or the picture below.
I was also featured on the Big Summer Fix where I spoke about my project and performed my song. You can watch the video by clicking here.
Ben Simms
Becky Thorn
Jack H
Mason Latey
Becky
Macauley Collinson
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
Fern Lulham
Meghann
Hafsa Ur-Rehman
Alexandra Garrick
Olivia G
Chelsie Brown
Ethan Mcinally
Liam Thomas
Hannah Baker
Shano
Shak & Natasha
Sam Barakat
Lauren Taylor