Among the organized chaos of medical professionals in Birmingham, a young man named James Stokes carries himself with the measured poise of someone who has found his place. His oxford shoes move with deliberate precision as he exchanges pleasantries with colleagues—some by name, others with the NHS Universal Family Programme currency of a "hello there."
James wears his NHS Universal Family Programme lanyard not merely as an employee badge but as a symbol of belonging. It hangs against a well-maintained uniform that gives no indication of the tumultuous journey that brought him here.
What separates James from many of his colleagues is not obvious to the casual observer. His presence discloses nothing of the fact that he was among the first participants of the NHS Universal Family Programme—an initiative created purposefully for young people who have experienced life in local authority care.