About Me
There’s much I could say about myself, and at 39, I possess more lived experience than most might think. I grew up in a chaotic environment, with many Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Much of my teenage and early adult life felt confusing, as my thoughts and emotions often clashed with how my body responded to the world around me.
It wasn’t until I started doing deeper work on myself that things began to make sense. As I started to unpack my childhood experiences, I gained a better understanding of how they influenced my adult life. This self-awareness helped me make positive changes—recognising why I react in certain ways, identifying my triggers, and even making sense of more subtle behaviours that I now see as forms of stimming.
This journey has shown me that I want to dedicate my life to helping others—particularly disadvantaged children and young people. My approach is based on empowerment, advocacy, and support. I aim to assist young people in becoming confident, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals who can generate a ripple of positive change in the world.
If you know me, you’ll recognise the image on the bottom right. I’m rarely seen without a notebook in hand, a can of Pepsi nearby, and my head full of ideas—usually jotting down thoughts from a meeting, training session, or something I’m passionate about writing.
About Unlocking Children
Over the years, I’ve developed valuable skills through practical experience and training across various industries. For the past seven years, I’ve worked in education, with the last four spent at a specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) school—where I continue to work today.
It was during my time in this role that I had the opportunity to join a Youth Work Apprenticeship Degree. This pathway allowed me to study for a degree while continuing to work full-time—a challenging but immensely rewarding balance.In October 2023, I began studying for the Youth Work Degree, a path I never thought I would pursue. I left school without any qualifications and didn’t go to college, so higher education seemed out of reach for most of my life.
As part of the course, I started writing assignments and quickly realised that I not only enjoy writing but am also quite skilled at it. Over time, my confidence has increased, and I now produce new articles almost every week.
These articles are written to support people who work with children—whether parents, educators, or other professionals. I wanted the name of the website to reflect that purpose, and so Unlocking Children was born: a space dedicated to helping children grow into the best version of themselves.
The Mission
At Unlocking Children, the mission is to offer accessible, trauma-informed resources that enable adults to better understand, support, and advocate for children’s emotional wellbeing, development, and rights. Aiming to bridge the gap between research, lived experience, and everyday practice—providing practical guidance grounded in empathy and respect.
The Vision
I envision a world where every child, regardless of background or need, is nurtured, heard, and given the opportunity to thrive. Through these articles, tools, and educational materials, I aim to inspire a more inclusive, compassionate approach to working with children—one that acknowledges the importance of social-emotional learning, neurodiversity, safeguarding, and fostering positive relationships.
