Over the years my school coaching work has given me the opportunity to work with many young people from very varied backgrounds. I have had some of the most humbling experiences when working with ‘Looked After Children’.

A looked after child is a young person who can be:

• Subject to an interim care order
• Accommodated by the local authority
• On a full care order or emergency protection order
• Remanded by a court into local authority accommodation or youth detention accommodation

These young people have often had a very challenging start to life. Most of them have had little guidance, support, consistency or stability in their lives. Many have been exposed to physical/mental abuse, neglect, abandonment or things they should never have to see at such a young age.

Stability and consistency is something that most of my looked after students would choose given the chance. It is very common to find out that they have had multiple foster placements and social workers.

What I have noticed as I work with young people who are looked after is that they are outstanding at being resilient, flexible and open-minded. Their ability to bounce back when life is tough just astounds me.

Many of them go on to be volunteers or ambassadors working with youth charities and organisations. By sharing their experience they help to refine and improve processes and assist other looked after children as they go through a similar experience to themselves.

My work with these young people is both heart-breaking and mind blowing when you learn what they have had to deal with at a very early age. I find the maturity, strength and resilience with these students is simply amazing and I feel very honoured to have the opportunity to work with them and make a difference to their lives.

If you know of a young person that is struggling in life and would benefit from life coaching then please contact me.