Our Story

“A study by children’s rights charity National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) in 2023 found that four in five looked after children have their possessions moved in bin bags when they enter care or change homes.”

We’re simply not ok with this.

When Heulwen realised in the wake of the Pandemic just how many children were suffering, she knew she had to act. The scale of suffering for children and young people is shocking – and it is not happening in some far off place: it happens at home. Wales has the highest rate of children entering care in the UK, with 7,000 children entering care each year. That’s one every 15 minutes. Whatsmore, children in the care system go on to make up nearly a third of our prison and homeless populations.

Children are suffering, and the system is overwhelmed with more cases than it can manage. Children of all ages are abused, neglected and traumatised, on a daily basis.

Some of the stories Heulwen came across were so harrowing, she describes the discovery as bearing some kind of grief: it broke her heart. As she cradled her newborn, she couldn’t comprehend that people would actively cause such harm to children so precious. And yet, this tragedy, confirmed to her over and over by professionals, statistics and testimonials, is that they do.

With a firm conviction that every life is precious beyond measure, that every life should be loved, nurtured and cared for, Heulwen knew she had to act.

But where do you begin when the problem is so vast, when the challenges so overwhelming, the statistics so large?

You start with the one.

We learnt that children were entering care with things in bin liners, or didn’t have the things they needed at all. Though Foster Carers were obligated to provide later on, what would you want for your children? At the very least, you’d want dignity and love in a moment that is, ultimately, traumatising.

When a care leaver told us she ‘felt like rubbish’ when her things were in bin liners, we knew we could do better. 

When we were told of young people kept in police stations in emergencies without supplies, we knew we could do better.

When we were told of practical measures that could be taken: we knew we could meet the need – we had to.

In 2022, Heirs was therefore launched, knowing that every child was made to thrive, and that though we couldn’t do everything, we could do something.

Our mission is practically outworked as brand new backpacks full of supplies – from toiletries to fidget toys, from books to bespoke affirmation cards – are put in the hands of children in traumatic moments, giving dignity and showing love.

It is outworked when children who sit afraid and alone in a police station, having just been taken from all they knew into a completely unknown future, can sit and colour in mindfulness books, play a game or hold a teddy, and know they’ve been thought of.

It is outworked when we rally people to foster and adopt, knowing that together we can change their trajectories and alter the statistics: they are not destined for being destitute, broken or incarcerated: they were made for so much more.

We have already helped hundreds of children, but we know that we are scratching the surface of the need. But together, we can play our part in their stories: taking what has been a tragedy and making it a victory.

#forallthesonsandaughters