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 smart shoes move with deliberate precision as he acknowledges 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 inclusion. It hangs against a well-maintained uniform that gives no indication of the tumultuous journey that led him to this place.
What sets apart James from many of his colleagues is not visible on the surface. His demeanor reveals nothing of the fact that he was among the first participants of the NHS Universal Family Programme—an undertaking created purposefully for young people who have experienced life in local authority care.