{"id":1830,"date":"2026-08-18T15:50:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T14:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.1625ip.co.uk\/about-us\/news-and-projects\/\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T16:04:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T15:04:35","slug":"iriss-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.1625ip.co.uk\/fr\/about-us\/news-and-projects\/iriss-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Iris’s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Iris\u2019s Journey Through Care and Finding Stability<\/h2>\n \n

Iris\u2019s Story<\/h3> \n
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Iris has been part of 1625 Independent People for quite some time, getting involved across a wide range of projects and using her voice to speak up for other young people. A passionate advocate and spokesperson, she brings honesty, insight and lived experience to conversations about youth homelessness and the care system.<\/p>\n

Behind that confidence is a journey shaped by instability, resilience, and perseverance.<\/p>\n

At 19, Iris is clear about one thing:\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0proud of how far\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0come.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0very proud\u00a0of myself\u2026 now I am very stable. I live in my own flat,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0working, and I have a\u00a0really good\u00a0relationship with my nan.\u201d<\/p>\n

But her journey to stability\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0been straightforward.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t entirely negative\u2026 but it wasn\u2019t entirely positive\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iris entered care at 14 following a breakdown in family relationships, after\u00a0living with her nan for most of her childhood, a relationship that\u00a0remained\u00a0a constant source of support throughout everything that followed. Her first placement, in Bath, brought a sense of calm during a turbulent time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was\u00a0a very good\u00a0experience\u2026 I started understanding my emotions and why I was upset. It made me think, \u2018okay, I understand now.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

But what followed was a series of moves between placements, often with little notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d\u00a0be told I was moving and then suddenly\u2026\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0packing my things that same day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Living with constant change\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the next few years, Iris moved between multiple homes across the\u00a0South West, including Keynsham, Weston-super-Mare, and beyond.<\/p>\n

With each move came uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you move around so much,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0like\u2026\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0the point in getting comfortable? You know\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0going to move again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some placements were positive, where she felt respected and supported. Others were far more challenging.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0going into other people\u2019s homes. You\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0allowed,\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0not\u2026\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0awkward.\u201d<\/p>\n

At times, the instability took a toll on her mental health.<\/p>\n

Throughout this period, Iris stayed\u00a0closely connected\u00a0to her nan, speaking regularly and finding ways to\u00a0maintain\u00a0that relationship even when she was living further away.<\/p>\n

Finding moments of stability\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite the challenges, there were moments of connection and care that stayed with her.<\/p>\n

One placement in Weston-super-Mare brought a sense of belonging.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe respected me for who I was\u2026 it felt like I could actually be myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later, Iris moved to Kingswood, where she stayed for over two years, her longest and most stable placement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the first time I really felt at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even during periods of uncertainty, her relationship with her nan\u00a0remained\u00a0a grounding force, something she\u00a0held onto\u00a0through every move.<\/p>\n

Education through uncertainty\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout it all, Iris remained in education, often travelling long distances to stay connected to her school in Bristol.<\/p>\n

Her teachers played a crucial role.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were heavily supportive\u2026\u00a0they\u2019d\u00a0walk me to the train station, check my trains. They just understood what I needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the constant\u00a0moving\u00a0did\u00a0impact\u00a0her learning at times, the support around her helped her keep going.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s always positives to negatives\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Looking back, Iris reflects on her experiences with honesty and perspective.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m grateful for moving\u2026 because I know if I\u2019d stayed where I was, I might not be who I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her journey has shaped not only her resilience, but also her sense of purpose.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helped me be an advocate for those who can\u2019t speak up for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

A call for understanding\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iris is passionate about changing how people see young people in care.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0not doing this because we want to\u2026\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0had hard lives. People need to be more understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also highlights how sudden moves can affect young people.<\/p>\n

\u201cTry and give them more time.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0so aggressive otherwise\u2026\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0ripping them away from everything they know.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Looking ahead\u00a0<\/h2>\n \n \n
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Today, Iris is focused on her future, building\u00a0stability\u00a0and using her experiences to support others.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy experiences helped me be an advocate for those who can\u2019t speak up for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

She continues to stay close with her nan, a relationship that has been central throughout her journey and\u00a0remains\u00a0an important part of her life today.<\/p>\n

Her story is a powerful reminder of the challenges young people in care can face, but also of their strength\u00a0and\u00a0resilience.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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