Ep 16. Empowering Change: Fatima Whitbread from Care to Champion

Welcome to ‘This Is The North’ Podcast, your source of transformative conversations. An intentional challenge to the systems holding back the North of England. Hosted by Alison Dunn, an award-winning charity chief executive and former solicitor. This podcast is supported by Society Matters Community Interest Company and is dedicated to curating and sharing knowledge, powering the change we need for a more equal and inclusive society.In this episode, Alison sits down with Fatima Whitbread, a celebrated Olympian, world champion, MBE recipient, and tireless advocate for children in the care system. Fatima's story is a powerful journey from a challenging childhood in care to becoming a world-renowned athlete. She discusses her ongoing campaign to reform the care system and her upcoming summit aimed at driving systemic change. This conversation sheds light on the critical issues faced by children in care and underscores the necessity of creating supportive and nurturing environments.Timestamp:00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:31 Meet Fatima Whitbread: Olympian and Advocate01:32 Everest Base Camp Experience02:25 Campaigning for Children in Care03:31 Fatima's Early Life in the Care System04:20 Challenges in the Care System10:30 The Importance of Role Models13:33 Programs for Youth Development16:04 The Broken Care System26:23 Empowering Young People30:36 The Need for Foster Carers35:46 Fatima's Reflections and Values38:58 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThis is an unforgettable episode featuring one of life’s true champions, who triumphed against unimaginable hardships to rise as a beacon of hope, grit, and resilience. Fatima’s journey from an abandoned child to an Olympic champion and campaigner is not just inspiring; it’s a call to action for all of us to contribute to a fairer, more caring society.Enjoyed the podcast? Subscribe now, and together, let's empower our communities for a brighter, more equitable future.Alison Dunn (Host)Fatima Whitbread (Guest)Peter Bell (Producer)This podcast was recorded and produced by Purpose Made, dedicated to powering societal change through knowledge sharing.If you'd like to find out more about Fatima's UK Campaign please visit https://www.fatimascampaign.com/about-fatima/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.