Unbound launches 'revelatory' anthology on care system

Unbound is launching a crowdfunder for Free Loaves on Fridays by Rebekah Pierre, an anthology of stories, reflections and letters by care-experienced people from diverse backgrounds.

The anthology aims to give a voice to marginalised communities, and to give previously unpublished care-experienced workers the opportunity to share their stories. In addition to their submissions, the anthology will also include contributions from novelist Sally Bayley, poet Lisa Luxx, author and consultant Lisa Cherry, journalist Chantelle Billson, writer and psychotherapist Alice Spencer and head of campaigns and advocacy at Unicef, Benjamin Perks.

Profits from the book will be donated to Together Trust, a charity that champions the rights of children, young people and adults across the north west, and Article 39, an independent charity that promotes the rights of young people living in institutional settings.

The John Lewis Partnership, which recently announced some long-term commitments to supporting people who are care experienced, has provided funding for Free Loaves on Friday.

Pierre is a care-experienced writer and campaigner with a background in child protection social work. She has written extensively about her time in care, including on the recent review of children’s social care for the Guardian, as well as for a peer-reviewed journal where she published diary extracts from childhood. She currently works for the British Association of Social Workers on policy and campaigns.

Before beginning her career in social work, she was a music graduate and dancer. Providing creative opportunities for marginalised groups inspired her first book Gymtherapy (Routledge). She has also co-edited a book on social work in disasters, which includes stories of survivors from Grenfell and Hillsborough.

"For far too long, stigma and misunderstanding has clouded the public perception of those of us who have lived experience of the care system – this book will enable us to have some control over our own narrative," she said. "A crucial step, given we are often the subject, rather than the author of what is written about – yet without us – in everything ranging from headlines to our care files.

"On a personal level, writing was perhaps the only positive coping mechanism I had in care. It was a way to express much of the sorrow and confusion I felt, but also helped me to join the dots on patterns which emerged in my life and helped me to reclaim my own narrative in a positive way. I hope now to pass on the baton and encourage the next generation of care-experienced writers to do the same."

Publisher John Mitchinson said: "To understand the experience of others, we must enable them to tell their own stories in their own words. The care system in this country is cloaked in fear and misunderstanding. Rebekah Pierre’s rich and revelatory anthology will change that – and change everyone who reads it."