When I started working in this role, I began to understand just how many barriers care-experienced young people face. Across Bristol, 1,700 children in care or care leavers are growing up without the same opportunities many of us take for granted. And it’s often these experiences - the clubs, trips, hobbies, and chances to try something new - that help shape who we become.

Through my work, I have the privilege of supporting the EPIC Charity and seeing first-hand the difference it makes. EPIC provides £500 experience-based grants to care-experienced young people aged 13–25, helping them access opportunities that build confidence, independence, and joy. Grants have funded things like driving lessons, sports equipment, holidays, music lessons, and skills courses.

I also get the chance to meet some of the young people who’ve benefited from these grants. Hearing them talk about what these experiences have meant - the confidence they’ve gained, the friendships they’ve built, the sense of being valued - has been incredibly moving. For many, these opportunities aren’t just “nice extras.” They’re life-changing.

My aim is to raise £500 - enough to fund an EPIC grant and support one young person to access an opportunity they might otherwise miss out on.

Small grants create big impact. And with the right support, that impact can last a lifetime.