How I Got Here: Victoria Phair, therapeutic training and support lead

Growing up on a southeast London council estate, I experienced many ups and downs. There was the community feeling of having friends and family close by juxtaposed by the challenges of living in an environment where the National Front would regularly hold marches. When I was in secondary school, the murder of Damilola Taylor, in an area I was familiar with, shaped my decision to work with children and young people. I decided to become a psychology teacher, with the hope to make a positive impact on the lives of those I taught. It was a great decision as during my teacher training, I was given the opportunity to work in an alternative provision and I chose a prison. This opened my eyes to what it was like inside, but also hearing some of the testimonies of the prisoners got me thinking about the early life experiences of children and young people.