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Explore the countries and communities I’m visiting as part of my Churchill Fellowship. My research journey spans Ghana, the Netherlands, and Atlanta in the United States—each offering powerful learning about cultural identity, community care, and long-term support for children. The insights I gather will help shape a Cultural Mentor Framework for the UK, designed to strengthen belonging, resilience, and outcomes for children in care.
Ghana is the first stage of my Churchill Fellowship, where I will explore community-based approaches to child welfare. My research focuses on how extended family networks, cultural identity, and community responsibility shape the care of children. I will be learning from Ghanaian social workers, kinship carers, faith-based organisations, and family support structures that centre culture, belonging, and collective responsibility. This visit will help shape a UK model of cultural mentorship and improve outcomes for Black and Global Majority children in foster care.
Atlanta is globally recognised for its leadership in mentorship, community empowerment, and work with Black children, young people, and families. During this Fellowship visit, I will explore how organisations—including mentoring programmes, universities, and social care innovators—design identity-affirming support for children. The aim is to understand how long-term, culturally anchored mentoring can be embedded into the UK care system, ensuring children have consistent, trusted adults who understand their cultural world..
The Netherlands is known for its progressive, child-centred social care systems, with a strong focus on participation, early intervention, and community-based support. During this stage of my Churchill Fellowship, I will explore Dutch models of foster care, youth rights, and culturally responsive practice. My research will focus on how the Netherlands empowers children to have a voice in decisions, how carers are supported, and what innovative approaches can be adapted for the UK. This visit will deepen the development of the Cultural Mentor Framework and strengthen long-term support for children in care.
