Karla’s fostering journey

“The day I was taken into foster care still haunts me. I was seven years old. It was Pancake Day. I had just sat down to watch EastEnders, when suddenly police officers were at our front door, removing my older sister and I from the family home.

After a few short-term arrangements, I eventually found a stable, long-term foster family. They were fantastic, I will always have so much love and gratitude for all they did for me.

I struggled to express my feelings or talk about the trauma I had experienced, I was scared to talk to adults and felt unable to trust anybody. That all started to shift when I was around 12 years old.”

“During my secondary-school years at Davison High School, two amazing dance teachers, Jessica Anstey and Sarah Binney, encouraged me to join the lunchtime dance club. I had no dance experience and very low expectations, but they believed in me.

To my surprise, dance quickly became a lifeline.

For 30 minutes a day, I didn’t have to explain myself or carry the weight of my past. I could just be. I was more than my file, I was free.

From that day forwards I would go home and dance every day, although I drove my foster mum mad with how loud my music was, she knew I needed to escape. When multiple family time sessions with my mum were cancelled, I would get lost in a world of improvisation in my room.”

“One of the proudest moments of my life was being made Head Girl at Davison. That recognition meant the world to me, not just for what it represented personally, but for what it meant to other children we care for.

I made it my mission to advocate for other children in care, to show them that these opportunities are for us too. I showed then that with the right support, intervention, and cheerleaders, we can rewrite our stories.

It was a moment where I could say, “Now I get to write the next chapter of my story.” I carry that message with me every day in the work I do. The future really is full of possibility. 

But my path wasn’t without heartbreak. At the age of 14, I lost my older brother to suicide. I didn’t understand, not fully. I remember feeling so much guilt, the realisation that the care system saved me and gave me a fresh start, but my two eldest siblings were not so lucky.

That grief could have derailed me, but once again, the staff at Davison and my connection to dance helped me find stability. Over time, the pain became more manageable.

My identity began to shift; I was no longer just a child in foster care. I became an aspiring choreographer. I went on to train at some of the most prestigious dance schools in the UK, and that training shaped the work I do today.”

“People often ask why I chose to return to my former school, and my answer is always the same: Davison gave me hope at a time I needed it most. Coming back to work here felt like the most natural way to give back. There’s something deeply special about this school – its culture, its people – and being part of it again has been incredibly rewarding.”

“As an adult, I’ve felt pulled to give back, to use what I’ve learned to support others. I’ve completed training in therapeutic arts, and I’ve seen firsthand how powerful creative expression can be in helping people process trauma and navigate their lived experiences.

In the safeguarding team at Davison High School, I see the mental health crisis facing teenagers. The reality? Some young people are waiting up to three years for mental health intervention.

We need new approaches, and I want to be part of the solution. I want to encourage professionals like me to think outside the box. That’s where the idea for the ‘therapeutic arts hub’ was born.

A welcoming, inclusive space where:

We will offer music therapy, mindful movement, and inclusive dance classes

A youth space for children in care, young carers, and children with additional needs

Professionals to have private meeting rooms to do meaningful, one-on-one work with young people

And both adults and children can access therapeutic services in a calm, sensory-rich environment

It’s more than a building. It’s a chance for our community to come together, to lift each other up, and to show our young people that they matter.

Early 2024, I became a Trauma-Informed Practitioner through the University of East London. This training was transformative both personally and professionally. I’m now exploring further qualifications to strengthen and expand the support my future Therapeutic Arts Hub can offer.”

“Sometimes I wonder: what would my life have looked like if I hadn’t found dance? The truth is, it wasn’t just dance that saved me. It was the people I met along the way. The emotionally available adults who showed up. The mentors who never gave up on me. The community that allowed me to be more than my past.

I refused to become another statistic. I broke the cycle that’s existed in my family for generations – and I’ll always be grateful to my school for helping me do that. Being in foster care really did save my life.

Now it’s my turn to give back.

This is just the beginning. I hope this venture opens doors…even just one door…for a young person who feels lost, just like I once did.”

“I’m a proud mum to two beautiful daughters, aged 6 and 1. Last February, I married my partner Daniel, and it was incredibly special to have so many of the key teachers who supported me at Davison there to celebrate with us. It felt like everything had come full circle; sharing such an important day with the people who helped shape who I am.”

“Every young person needs an outlet but for children in care or those who’ve experienced trauma, having a hobby or imagining a positive future can feel almost impossible. Davison introduced me to dance, and that single act changed the course of my life. Dance gave me something to focus on, something that brought me joy and purpose. It was more than a hobby; it became a survival tool.

Now, in my work with children in care, I always try to help them find their own ‘spark’. Whether it’s sport, music, art, or dance. Having that one constant thing to hold onto can be life changing. In a world that often feels unstable, that small spark can become a guiding light.”

“If there’s one message I’d love to share, it’s this: every adult working with a child we care for should be trauma informed. 

Children in care aren’t looking for miracle workers. They just need consistent, compassionate adults – people who are willing to look beyond the behaviour, beyond the paperwork, and truly see the child. I remember how painful it was to know people were reading about my life in a file and making decisions based on trauma I never chose. 

When I was a teenager, my foster carers built a strong relationship with Davison’s staff. They kept communication open, and it was those emotionally available adults at school who supported me day in and day out. Social workers came and went, but my trusted adult at school never changed. 

If you’re someone who listens, who cares, and who shows up consistently, you already have the most powerful tools needed to transform a child’s life. 

Thank you for reading my story.”