“The power of storytelling resonates!” Kaddy Thomas on harnessing experience and passion to create authentic change

I attended the Fundraising on the Margins conference today. Here are my notes from the keynote speaker, Kaddy Thomas (Founder of Elijah’s Hope CIC)’s session, in which she spoke about her own experiences and harnessing that experience and passion to create authentic change. Harnessing experience and passion to create authentic change Also founder and CEO of Carers Collective, a newly registered charity. I was born in Birmingham in 1968, with Apert syndrome – non-existent support for babies with disabilities, after a year my mother abandoned me. I was then placed in a hospital for children with profound learning disabilities. Then moved to a residential children’s home for children with profound learning disabilities. But they could see I shouldn’t have been placed there. Age 9, in care of Birmingham Social Services. Then was fostered for two years, but broke down due to sexual abuse and I moved back into residential care. After this placed with a black foster family – but that lasted only three weeks. Dealing with As humans we all need to be loved. Reflecting – I didn’t have love in the true sense of the word. If we don’t love ourselves, it’s hard to give it out. Numerous operations through childhood at Great Ormond Street. Left residential home to live in hostel to prepare for independent living. Don’t introduce people with their condition. My son is an 18 year old with personality. His skull surgery as a baby was a