Posted on: 28 July 2022
Meera Mistry, our Director of Strategy and Integration, was recently featured in the Observer: the story says, ‘Every one of us has a different story: a historic portrait of care system success. Poet Lemn Sissay, with the help of London’s Foundling Museum, has gathered 59 athletes, artists, CEOs and others who, like him, spent part of their childhoods in care. The result is an inspiring photograph for young people in care today”
Meera says: “I have always been very open about the fact that I have been in Care and was classed as a ‘Care Leaver’. Most recently I’ve started to use my experience and position more publicly to try and change things for the better for children and young people in care. Outcomes remain poor for many. My focus has been on hope and optimism and increase the opportunities for care leavers to build a different life. I will not deny that life before and during care was full of trauma and pain. However, stigma of being in care and the lack of belief and options was arguably the lifelong barrier to any kind of success.
“I am one of the lucky ones and have had so much support from CNWL. I want others to have the same.”
“I was approached by the formidable Lemn Sissay to be part of a historical portrayal of care experienced folk who have overcome extraordinary challenges and are successful in their field. This was in partnership with the Foundling Museum where 59 of us – Olympic medallists, writers, tv personalities, restauranteurs and many more – gathered to have our photo taken and testimonies which featured in The Observer. It was intended to celebrate success and also inspire hope.”