'It's my strong ambition to change people's perceptions'

Matthew Bellingham delivered this impassioned speech about breaking through barriers and succeeding in life

It’s always angered me that people think kids in care are ‘bad’, or not to hang about with kids in care because they have this reputation.

Spending almost five years in residential care, I’ve seen so many people change their entire perception and their entire persona, just to fit in. Which, in today’s society, is the norm: to ‘fit in’, and that’s what you’re taught from a very young age.

I like to describe it as when you move to a different country: you subconsciously develop an accent. This cycle is what really happens. I’ve seen it, and if you think about it, I’m sure you’ve seen it as well.

There’s so many things that I’m sure we can agree on that need changing in the care system. It is a strong ambition of mine in life to change people’s perceptions about kids in care, and make strong changes with my experience.

“I want people to know what it’s like for young people in care: completely unscripted and raw”

I want people to know what it’s like for us young people who are in and were in care: completely unscripted and raw. So people can stop thinking ‘oh, care kids are bad’ – or it’s like Tracey Beaker. Because none of that is true.

Young people are constantly being degraded because of where they stay. When I was passed around several foster placements, I felt as if I had no hope in life. I had no destination and I was unloved. I never want to feel like that again.

Now I’m a social media influencer, DJ and business owner, and I want to inspire people to show them that you can be successful no matter what has happened in your life, bad things and dark times. You can do whatever you want in life.

Image of Matthew Bellingham by Gerry Fox