Home
Your stories

Your stories

Funny, sad, inspiring, uplifting – scroll down for stories and experiences from teens all over the country. Share your story on IMO.

ELLA

Care experiences

The IMO Podcast, series 1 episode 1: Ella’s story

debbie lydia

Your stories

Conversations with care leavers featuring Debbie Douglas: Fostering through the years

I shouldn’t have to feel grateful that I’ve got a roof over my head, because every child in care should have that.

- Freya, care leaver

Latest stories

Your stories

A community zine exploring our stories in a way which feels comfortable

Video screenshot

Your stories

Our first night in a children’s home

Annie

Your stories

Improving the health and wellbeing of black women with Amour Destiné

Animation

Your stories

Getting that ‘lightbulb moment’ to try new things

Your stories

The IMO podcast, series 2 episode 6: Jojo’s story

Careers

Career-experienced people: meet Jamie, a care-experienced Executive at Rolls-Royce

Your stories

Giving care leavers a Christmas Day they’ll never forget

Care experiences

Behind the glittering bows: creating new traditions at Christmas

Your stories

Six tips for making the best of the festive season

Care experiences

The IMO Podcast: Conversations at Christmas

Care experiences

Bonus IMO podcast episode: we’ve won GOLD at the European Lovie Awards!

Care experiences

The IMO podcast, series 2 episode 4: Zara’s story

Care experiences

Career experienced people: meet Meera, a care-experienced Associate Director at the NHS

Care experiences

What I wish I’d known before becoming a care-experienced social worker

Careers event

Your stories

Kickstart your career with our virtual careers event – sign up now!

Education

Planting the seed: going to university as a care leaver

Care experiences

Making the jump from care to college

Your stories

GIVEAWAY! Win a back to school kit including goodies from Madlug and Breethe

Care experiences

How accurate is Tracy Beaker?

Care experiences

Do I regret going into care?

Your stories

The IMO Podcast, series 2 episode 3: Max and Brandon’s story

Featured image - Studio headphones and recording equipment

Your stories

The IMO Podcast, series 2 episode 2: Charlotte’s story

Your stories

The IMO Podcast: nominated for Best New Podcast at the 2020 British Podcast Awards!

Louise’s in podcast recording room.

Your stories

The IMO Podcast, series 2 episode 1: Louise’s story

#definecare image of carers leavers from across the country to coming together virtually during the lockdown to create a collaborative poem about how they define care.

Care experiences

How do you #definecare? A collaborative poem by care experienced people

Image of Casey

Care experiences

How coronavirus has impacted me as a care leaver, and advice for others

Animation of person facing the sea and saying "I need to talk to you"

Care experiences

The more you give, the more you get back

COVID 19 - We want to know if you need help or support. Contact us hello@imohub.org.uk

Your stories

Coronavirus: what help and support do you need?

Thoughtful woman at home looking through the window

Life hacks

How can I look after my wellbeing while self-isolating?

Image of person applying hand sanitiser.

Life hacks

Coronavirus – what you need to know

Image of instant noodles packet and instant noodles which have been cooked.

Care experiences

Children aren’t leaving care, care is leaving them

Image of anonymous dear future me messages left previously

Care experiences

Care Day 2020: Dear future me

Care experiences

Taking my power back through creative writing

Care experiences

Seven years of separation in care

Care experiences

Changing the way foster carers are recruited

Care experiences

Let’s chat: Foster care, trauma, the media, and why it’s time to change

Your stories

Finding my voice and owning my reality

Care experiences

The IMO Podcast, series 1 episode 5: Steven’s story

Care experiences

The IMO Podcast, series 1 episode 4: Rihanna’s story

Your stories

Roots, Shoots and Fruits: The Care Experienced Conference 2019

Care experiences

The IMO Podcast, series 1 episode 3: Nathaniel and Victoria’s stories

Your stories

The strength within you

Care experiences

The IMO Podcast, series 1 episode 2: Ryan’s story

Care experiences

From loss to lectures

Care experiences

The IMO Podcast, series 1 episode 1: Ella’s story

Care experiences

Saving lives

Care experiences

My life in foster care

Your stories

Conversations with care leavers: staying in touch with family

Care experiences

My journey

Your stories

Have you been kind today?

Your stories

#caretolisten: Stuart Haden on why it is important to listen to the voices of children in care

Your stories

Dear younger me: School

Your stories

Conversations with care leavers: leaving care and living independently

Your stories

Dear younger me: Stigma

Your stories

Coming out without a family

Your stories

Conversations with care leavers: getting a job

Care experiences

I’m worth so much more than I believed

Your stories

Conversations with care leavers: gaining independence after care

Your stories

Dear younger me: Mental health

Your stories

Foster Care Fortnight 2019: Changing futures

Care experiences

‘Write Speak Share’ writing competition winners announced

Your stories

What makes us all thrive

Your stories

Conversations with care leavers featuring Debbie Douglas: Fostering through the years

Your stories

A bumpy road to feeling good

Your stories

Keep sharing your stories

Your stories

Dear me

Your stories

A list of incredible people who were fostered, adopted or in children’s homes, compiled by Lemn Sissay

Your stories

Dear younger me: Relationships

Your stories

#caretolisten: Rapper Ric Flo channels his thoughts and feelings about his care experience through his music

Your stories

Studying at the University of Oxford as a care leaver

Your stories

Walking in our shoes

Your stories

Dear younger me: Speaking up and getting help

Your stories

Dear younger me: Confidence

Care experiences

#caretolisten: Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield on her ‘superpower’ for children in the care system

Your stories

My journey from foster care to the University of Oxford

Careers

How my experiences helped me with my apprenticeship

Care experiences

[COMPETITION CLOSED] Share your biggest achievement for your chance to win 40 hours of driving lessons with the AA

Careers

Dear younger me: School

Careers

Back to school

Care experiences

#caretolisten: new podcast series featuring first-hand experiences of life in care

Care experiences

What you should know about Kai

Your stories

Dear younger me: Life lessons

Your stories

Dear younger me: advice to my younger self

Care experiences

Dispelling stereotypes around dating and relationships in foster care

Careers

Studying to become a social worker

Care experiences

Why I’ve launched a YouTube channel dedicated to sharing my experiences

Care experiences

Breaking away from care

Your stories

She read as she cradled

Care experiences

What people think

Your stories

Do you have a story to tell?

Care experiences

Why we joined our local Children in Care Council

Your stories

What matters most to you?

Care experiences

My unconventional route to university

Care experiences

I made it out

Care experiences

IMO chats to Cambridge graduate and care leaver Ashley John Baptiste

Care experiences

Welcome to IMO – a message from others

Care experiences

Our humanity

Care experiences

What’s it’s really like to be in care?

Care experiences

Time to care more

Your stories

What does the term ‘family’ actually mean?

Your stories

Let’s talk about mental health

© The Children's Commissioner for England. The views, information, and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views or position of IMO or the Children’s Commissioner for England.