I grew up in Waltham Forest, went into the children's home and foster care system, and later spent years in and out of prison; I'm trying to unpack why and to speak to the next generation.
I was six when I was taken from home and dropped into different foster families around Leyton; I bounced between about six homes, slept by banging my head and learned to keep my back up, but I still owe respect to the carers who did right by me.
I moved between children's homes, foster families and the streets of Hackney and Stoke Newington, learning some structure in care placements while the everyday life of the streets left its mark.