Laura is a second-year participant on the Frontline programme and part of the 2021 Cohort. She is a newly qualified social worker in the family support and child protection team at her local authority.  Laura has a gentle presence that corresponds with the quiet confidence she shows as a leader, advocate, and positive force for social change.  Social work is a second career for me, I previously worked in the legal industry as a solicitor. I got reflecting on what my values are and found myself no longer resonating with my role as a solicitor. When I asked myself why I got into it, I ..read more

Kamala Panday started the Frontline programme in the summer of 2020. After qualifying as a social worker, she went on to join a children with disabilities team, before moving to safeguarding and currently works in a Mental Health in Schools team training to be a children’s CBT therapist.  As we spoke over Zoom, a photo of a woman posing with a degree certificate appeared faintly in Kamala’s background, attesting to her love of learning. She seems to have examined what truly matters in life; her wisdom comes through in her authenticity, warmth, and practice.   I didn’t really kno ..read more

Zariyan Syed (he/they) is an LGBTQ+ youth support worker, social work graduate, speaker and trainer. He strives to empower and uplift young LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as train professionals and carers who support LGBTQ+ young people in care.  Transitioning from a young person in care to a care leaver was no easy feat. The pressure to become an adult overnight without a personal advisor by your side and be thrown into a world without support for LGBTQ+ care leavers was not only a daunting thought, but a very real reality for me. Soon I learned that this was the case for countless other LG ..read more

Sindi Mvubu was part of the Frontline programme in 2019 and currently works in a court team specialising in court proceedings.  Sindi embarked on the Frontline programme as a mother and career changer. She is a proactive and pragmatic leader, evident through her ability to apply skills from her counselling background within her social work practice.  Helping children often means helping their parents and building relationships with different agencies that are involved in a child’s life, for example teachers, GP’s, family members, neighbours, and close friends. Prior to the Frontline ..read more

Zariyan Syed (he/they) is an LGBTQ+ youth support worker, social work graduate, speaker and trainer. He strives to empower and uplift young LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as train professionals and carers who support LGBTQ+ young people in care.  Introduction  Being an LGBTQ+ care leaver is one of the most significant parts of my identity.  I feel proud to share my experiences and today I would like to share my experience of coming out to my personal advisor (PA). Before I planned to come out to my PA, I was extremely stressed. I didn’t know how she would react. Having known the aw ..read more

Eric Wedge-Bull was on the 2018 Frontline programme cohort and currently works as an advanced practitioner (also known as a senior social worker) and consultant social worker at his local authority.  What stands out when speaking to Eric is a deep sense of pride in being a social worker. As a qualified systemic practitioner, he demonstrates a sincere drive to understand and empower those he works with.  If you asked me at ten years old what I want to be, I don’t think I would have said a social worker. But I think if someone explained to my ten-year-old self what I was doing now and ..read more

Nahida is a service manager for Essex Childrens Social Care . Before starting your journey on Pathway 4, what were you hoping to get out of the programme?   I have met and been shaped by many inspiring people and events during my time as a social worker which have led me to where I am today. I wanted to do the Pathways programme to take some time to pause and understand what really matters to me, the fundamentals of my leadership style and to consider how I would  want to shape services for the future. The residential gave me space and time to think about myself as a leader an ..read more

Eric Wedge-Bull was on the 2018 Frontline programme cohort and currently works as an advanced practitioner (also known as a senior social worker) and consultant social worker at his local authority.  What stands out when speaking to Eric is a deep sense of pride in being a social worker. As a qualified systemic practitioner, he demonstrates a sincere drive to understand and empower those he works with.  If you asked me at ten years old what I want to be, I don’t think I would have said a social worker. But I think if someone explained to my ten-year-old self what I was doing now and ..read more

We spoke with Charlie, who is passionate about diversity and inclusion, representation. Charlie is a registered social worker but decided to move out of statutory social work to find new ways to ensure that young people, within the LGBTQIA+ community, receive the support they need from their social workers.  I’m passionate about working with children and young people, and that has been the focus of my career so far. Part of the reason I decided not to go into practice as a social worker, was because I wanted to use my experiences to ensure social workers have the education and training th ..read more

Sophie was part of the third Frontline programme cohort in 2016 and now works as a team manager in the safeguarding service team at her local authority. Sophie is a bold leader and advocate whose passion oozes through her animated hand gestures and voice when she speaks. One can easily imagine children and families feeling reassured to have her fighting their corner. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Part of why I wanted to become a social worker was due to being raised by parents who are both teachers and worked in impoverished parts ..read more