55. Steven Russell - children in care deserve better

Wild Card - Whose Shoes?

When I originally set up the Wild Card - Whose Shoes podcast series, I wanted to provide a way of amplifying the voices of people who inspire me and who are making a difference. Steven Russell simply had to be a guest because his story is so important.

Steven tells his own story of growing up as a child in care, the emotional trauma and insecurity that can result, but showing huge resilience and strength, surviving the system.

Everyone who works with children or has children in their lives needs to hear it – such an eye-opener about trust, relationships, language, assumptions and so much more.

Steven is now inspiring children and young people in similar circumstances to believe that they can be anything they want to be, and role modelling this in such a powerful way.
Steven’s own childhood story is so powerful we focused on that and will record Part 2 to tell you more about this work. You can find out more in the links – Elements - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! #DripByDrip #DayByDay

Huge synergy with the #MPFTWhoseShoes project we are doing with the Children and Families’ team of Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust, using Whose Shoes to explore different aspects of their service and how it can be improved. Our forthcoming module, to be launched on 15 July, explores the topic of helping children in care have happy, successful lives.
Lemon lightbulbs 🍋💡🍋

• You have to find your own path; no-one can do it for you
• Commit your goals to paper; make it real
• Start small and build - drip by drip, day by day
• We all need someone to believe in us
• Looking back at a turbulent childhood through adult eyes brings new understanding
• You can't force trust - you have to grow relationships
• Care records need to be written with sensitivity for the grown-up child to read one day
• Loads of different adults telling you different things is confusing and traumatic
• Learning about your past while still navigating the care system can be overwhelming
• The organismic self - the itch inside you that makes you YOU, desite everything
• Nature versus nurture - fascinating!
• Living in care made Steven super adaptable
• Stories resonate because all human beings connect!

Links:

Elements - Steven's brilliant work!
I'm just a teacher
Steven's video about his Mum
Gill's podcast episode with Rachel Tomlinson, a progressive headteacher
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I tweet as @WhoseShoes and @WildCardWS and am on Instagram as @WildCardWS.
Please recommend 'Wild Card - Whose Shoes' to others who enjoy hearing passionate people talk about their experiences of improving health care.

Chapters

1. The promise of a 'forever' home - broken trust (00:03:00)

2. Moving on to a care home - "And in care homes, you get bullied" (00:06:50)

3. Dave was jolly, smiley and vibrant - all the kids loved him. He gave hope. (00:08:45)

4. Getting stabbed. Making a to do list. Taking ownership (00:10:00)

5. Shining a torch of optimism in the darkness. Not applying pressure. (00:11:50)

6. Drip by drip. Day by day. The small pieces build (00:15:00)

7. Pressure to call her 'Mum'; constantly having to please others (00:19:48)

8. Finding deeper understanding and closure - making a video for mum (00:23:13)

9. Growing up and learning the harsh truth - violence and abuse (00:26:25)

10. Abandoned in a police station - "You f*cking have him!) (00:29:53)

11. Deep empathy with children in care, having grown up 100% in the care system (00:31:12)

12. Uncertainty, chaos, fear, not knowing where you're going next - and SO many adults pulling you in different directions (00:31:52)

13. Mental health and suicidal thoughts. Make or break. Those that make good ... and those that don't (00:32:31)

14. Gill shares how the story resonates - personally as well as #MPFTWhoseShoes (00:35:09)

15. What makes one child survive and thrive and another end up in prison? (00:37:36)

16. Nature or nurture? The self concept and the orgasmic self. (00:38:20)

17. The positives of living in care - diversity and adaptability! (00:41:10)

18. Your orgasmic self (good or bad) will always shine through - Japanese Gill! (00:42:16)

19. You can't 'save' everyone, but Dave stuck with Steven. As a VOLUNTEER. (00:44:44)

20. Neurodiversity and other reasons may make it hard to have the same chance, but most DO have a choice (00:47:56)

21. 'Sliding doors moments' that get us where we are. Turning bad stuff into something positive (00:49:35)

22. The power of stories. They all resonate because we are connected as human beings. (00:55:17)

23. Coming soon! Part 2 will be how Steven has flipped his experience to help children and young people - big time! (00:56:00)