Little Mix: The Search singer from Surrey tells children in care to follow their dreams
Fiaa aka Sophia Hamilton spent 10 years in foster care.
A singer from Surrey has an important message for young people who have lived in care.
Fiaa aka Sophia Hamilton recently appeared on the BBC One Little Mix: The Search talent show and lived in foster care herself since the age of 11 as her mother suffered with a mental health condition.
26 year old Sophia is sharing her story during National Care Leavers Week:
"I was just this little lost girl once .
"I remember turning up at my foster placement with just a few bin liners, really worried about my mum.
"It was a really hard time but I have been lucky to have some really great people in my life that will always support me and my mum is always proud of me.
Sophia who admits she “missed a lot of school” earlier in life, now has a first class honours degree in song-writing and says she has found her love in music.
She is now studying for a Masters in Singing.
“I want to make children’s lives better and help young people by coming together with them and children’s services and families.
“My message applies to young people in care but also all of us in the current Covid situation. Don’t be told to give up and do something else. We might be in an awful situation but we should never give up our dreams. We absolutely must all believe in ourselves.”
Sophia will hold a live online Q&A with young people who have recently left care, encouraging them to pursue their dreams.
She now works as a residential worker in children’s homes in Surrey:
“I was lucky to be given one of the best PAs personal assistant, Sandra. She really believed in me and encouraged me. I want young people to work with their PAs and get the best for themselves.
“I want to follow my dreams and the team I work with in Children’s Services is so supportive. I wouldn’t have been able to achieve half the things I have without Surrey.”
The virtual Q&A forms part of a series of workshops provided by the Surrey County Council for 18-25 year olds who have left care.
They are are designed to support the 950 young people who have left the care of Surrey County Council’s Children’s Services or foster care.