Within the bustling halls of an NHS Universal Family Programme hospital in Birmingham, a young man named James Stokes moves with quiet purpose. His polished footwear barely make a sound as he exchanges pleasantries with colleagues—some by name, others with the comfortable currency of a "good morning."
James displays his credentials not merely as institutional identification but as a symbol of belonging. It hangs against a pressed shirt that offers no clue of the difficult path that preceded his arrival.
What distinguishes James from many of his colleagues is not visible on the surface. His presence discloses nothing of the fact that he was among the first beneficiaries of the NHS Universal Family Programme—an initiative crafted intentionally for young people who have experienced life in local authority care.
"It felt like the NHS was putting its arm around me," James says, his voice steady but carrying undertones of feeling.