Using Lived Experience to Support Young People With Barnardo's

Growing up, he lived with three different foster families and has had lots of involvement with Barnardo’s - starting out as a volunteer to now being employed at the Bristol HYPE service. As part of his role, Dan uses his lived experience to help other young people and train professionals. Thanks to his pioneering work, creativity, and enthusiasm, he became the recipient of the Thomas Barnardo award at the 2023 Barnardo’s Excellence Awards.

Here, he shares his story…

Dan’s experience growing up in care

“When I was 14, my mum had a mental health breakdown and I came into care.”

“I had a couple of different foster carers in and around Bristol and then I met Ally and Angus. I met them first on respite care. Ally and Angus became my third and final foster family. And I’m still in contact with them to this day – and my foster brother and sister too.”

“My foster dad, Angus, and my social worker, Jonathon, were the first two positive male role models that I had in my life. I still speak to my foster dad, but Jonathon passed away around four years ago.”

While Dan was in the care system, Jonathon introduced him to Barnardo’s where he began volunteering and joined the Care Leavers Unite Bristol group (CLUB).

Dan started working for Barnardo’s in 2018, and as part of his role, he facilitates trauma-informed training for staff by sharing his own lived experience – and he uses some of his poetry as part of the training programme.

“I want to be able to create safe places for people to learn about trauma.”

Due to his pioneering and creative work at the HYPE service, Dan was nominated for a Barnardo’s Excellence Award. “It felt very rewarding. It was nice to be recognised for things that I've done when it's something that makes me feel good in itself.”

“And it's also gives you validation that you're doing things in the right way. It just feels really nice.”