Survive grow inspire

Survive grow inspire I'm a motivational & inspirational speaker who gives an educational & inspirational insight into the world of being a care experienced child in London, UK.

“Paris Bartholomew is a UK‑based trauma speaker and psychologist specialising in trauma‑informed care, lived experience, and resilience for education, health, and corporate audiences.” I talk in order to provide a unique and frank account of care, while delving into the painful harrowing & somewhat disturbing life experiences I had as a child growing up, to how recovery & growth can be realised wh

en you rely on resilient factors to shape your journey. What's particularlt unique about this talk is the way which it is delivered, I'm certainly no victim, you will recognise the tones of survival strength & courage. This talk is provided as an hour interactive talk..a half-day seminar, one-day workshop or 2-day course (aimed at social worker professionals and those considering fostering or adoption); an excellent framework for potential social workers and social work education, students, those who want to recover from childhood trauma, those considering adoption, health & social care students & professionals, life story work and coaching. I'm not only an inspirational & innovative speaker but a qualified lecturer in psychology, health & social care & PHSE, a foster carer & and NLP practitioner, wellness expert & a Samaritans volunteer.

This is Fostering! This was my story!As we approach Fostering Fortnight (11–24 May), I’m reflecting on what fostering me...
27/04/2026

This is Fostering! This was my story!

As we approach Fostering Fortnight (11–24 May), I’m reflecting on what fostering meant for me — and why this year’s theme, “This is Fostering,” matters so deeply.
I was fostered as a child.
I lived with four different foster families.
All four placements broke down.
Not because people didn’t care — but largely because trauma wasn’t understood in the way it needs to be.
At the time, my behaviour was often seen as “challenging.”
Now, with hindsight, I know it was communication — shaped by loss, instability, and survival. I learnt most of this by becoming a foster carer myself. It was very different experiencing it from the other side.
That’s why this year’s theme resonates so strongly with me!

“This is Fostering” shines a light on the everyday reality of fostering — the quiet commitment, the patience, the moments of progress that may never make headlines but change lives nonetheless. Foster carers do make an enormous difference, often in ways that aren’t immediately visible.
It also acknowledges the very real pressures carers are navigating today:
low allowances and fees, inconsistent support, and too often being excluded from key decisions about the children in their care. These pressures don’t exist in isolation — they directly affect outcomes for children.

And crucially, this theme is a call to action.

A call for foster carers, kinship carers, care-experienced people, and the wider community to stand together and ask for meaningful, trauma‑informed change — at policy level, within systems, and in everyday practice.
My foster care journey was complex. It was painful at times.
But it’s also the reason I now speak about trauma, resilience, and the importance of understanding behaviour through a compassionate, informed lens.
When we understand trauma, we reduce breakdown. When we listen, we create stability. When we support carers properly, children have a better chance to heal.
This Fostering Fortnight, let’s not just celebrate fostering — let’s really see it, support it, and commit to doing it better.
Because this is fostering

07/04/2026

Active April

Paris Bartholomew is a UK‑based trauma speaker and psychologist specialising in trauma‑informed care, lived experience, ...
06/04/2026

Paris Bartholomew is a UK‑based trauma speaker and psychologist specialising in trauma‑informed care, lived experience, and resilience for education, health, and corporate audiences.

She is widely recognised for transforming lived experience of childhood trauma and the care system into professional education, keynote talks and CPD‑accredited training across the UK.
She entered local authority care at a young age and experienced multiple foster and residential placements. Her speaking work draws directly on this lived experience, combined with formal training in psychology, mental health, education and trauma‑informed Trauma-Informed Practice.

Paris is particularly known for re‑imagining trauma—helping organisations and individuals understand trauma not just as damage, but as something that can be understood, supported and healed when systems are compassionate and informed.

Her work commonly focuses on:

Trauma‑informed practice in education, health and social care
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) explained through lived experience.
Mental health, resilience and recovery
Care experience and the foster care system
Vicarious trauma, burnout and compassion fatigue for professionals
Equality, diversity and inclusion, including hidden disabilities and LGBTQI+ identity.

These themes are consistently listed across her professional speaker profiles and CPD listings.

Professional background and credibility
Paris combines lived experience with professional expertise:

Over 25 years working in education, psychology and training
Former teacher and lecturer in psychology and health & social care
CPD‑accredited speaker and trainer with the CPD Standards Office

Experience working with teachers, social workers, foster carers, youth justice teams, prisons, charities and corporate organisations.

She is regularly booked for conferences, staff training, leadership development, schools, universities and public sector organisations across the UK.

Recognition and impact
Paris Bartholomew has received national recognition for her work, including:

Nominations at the National Diversity Awards
Finalist for CPD Trainer of the Year
Recognition for community contribution and mental health advocacy.

Her talks are described by booking agencies as authentic, emotionally powerful and practical, particularly effective with challenging or emotionally demanding audiences.

Speaking style and approach
According to multiple UK speaker agencies, Paris’ style is:

Story‑led, grounded in real lived experience
Trauma‑informed and evidence‑based, not sensationalised
Focused on hope, recovery and systems change, rather than victimhood
Designed to leave audiences with practical understanding, not just inspiration.

She explicitly aims to help professionals reflect on their own trauma histories, build safer environments, and prevent burnout in caring roles.

Where people usually encounter her work
People in the UK most commonly encounter Paris Bartholomew through:

Mental health and trauma conferences
Education and social care CPD events
Foster care, youth work and safeguarding training
Equality, diversity and inclusion programmes
Keynote talks on resilience and psychological safety

Get in touch with her at www.parisbartholomew.com

I recently had the pleasure of delivering a Lunch & Learn session for the Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA), working with...
19/03/2026

I recently had the pleasure of delivering a Lunch & Learn session for the Essex Social Care Academy (ESCA), working with residential social workers across Essex County Council.

In just 90 minutes together, we explored some incredibly important topics that sit at the heart of residential practice, including:

▪️ Recognising and responding to vicarious trauma
▪️ Understanding the impact of compassion fatigue and burnout
▪️ Practical ways practitioners can protect their wellbeing while supporting young people with complex needs
▪️ The value of life story work and why helping young people understand their histories is central to healing and identity-building

Despite the short format, it was a highly engaging and interactive session, with thoughtful discussion around how residential social workers can better notice early warning signs of stress and sustain themselves in such emotionally demanding roles.

A big thank you to the Workforce Development Lead for the invitation and for creating the space to have these important conversations online. It was a privilege to contribute to the learning and development of such dedicated professionals.

Today, on International Women’s Day (8th March), I’m taking a moment to celebrate the strength, resilience, and brillian...
09/03/2026

Today, on International Women’s Day (8th March), I’m taking a moment to celebrate the strength, resilience, and brilliance of women everywhere.

Being a woman isn’t easy. Many women face challenges that are invisible to the outside world — barriers, expectations, inequalities, and personal battles that require extraordinary courage just to keep moving forward.

As someone who is care experienced and who grew up navigating trauma and uncertainty, I’ve seen firsthand how resilience is often born from the toughest circumstances. The women I’ve met throughout my life — carers, mentors, friends, and leaders — have shown me what quiet strength looks like. They’ve shown me that perseverance, compassion, and determination can coexist powerfully.

Their examples continue to inspire my work as a motivational speaker and my mission to help others see possibility beyond their pain.

Today isn’t just a celebration — it’s a reminder.

A reminder that women are leaders, survivors, innovators, caregivers, and changemakers.

A reminder that no woman should feel alone in her struggles.

And most importantly, a reminder that when women support women, incredible things happen.

Let’s continue to uplift one another. Let’s continue to open doors for one another. Let’s continue to remind every girl and every woman that her voice, her story, and her dreams matter.

Here’s to the strength of women in every form. Today and every day.

09/03/2026

❤️

Today, on International Women’s Day (8th March), I’m taking a moment to celebrate the strength, resilience, and brillian...
09/03/2026

Today, on International Women’s Day (8th March), I’m taking a moment to celebrate the strength, resilience, and brilliance of women everywhere.

Being a woman isn’t easy. Many women face challenges that are invisible to the outside world — barriers, expectations, inequalities, and personal battles that require extraordinary courage just to keep moving forward.

As someone who is care experienced and who grew up navigating trauma and uncertainty, I’ve seen firsthand how resilience is often born from the toughest circumstances. The women I’ve met throughout my life — carers, mentors, friends, and leaders — have shown me what quiet strength looks like. They’ve shown me that perseverance, compassion, and determination can coexist powerfully.

Their examples continue to inspire my work as a motivational speaker and my mission to help others see possibility beyond their pain.

Today isn’t just a celebration — it’s a reminder.

A reminder that women are leaders, survivors, innovators, caregivers, and changemakers.

A reminder that no woman should feel alone in her struggles.

And most importantly, a reminder that when women support women, incredible things happen.

Let’s continue to uplift one another.
Let’s continue to open doors for one another.
Let’s continue to remind every girl and every woman that her voice, her story, and her dreams matter.

Here’s to the strength of women in every form. Today and every day! 💜

Last week, I had the privilege of leading a Pride History Month "lunch‑and‑learn" session with Virgin Media O2 — and it ...
02/03/2026

Last week, I had the privilege of leading a Pride History Month "lunch‑and‑learn" session with Virgin Media O2 — and it reminded me just how important these conversations are.

People often talk about coming out as a defining life moment.
But for me… that moment never really happened.
✨ I never “came out” because I had no one to come out to.
Growing up in care meant my focus was survival, stability, and navigating trauma — not sexuality or identity disclosure.

I didn’t have parents to sit down with.
I didn’t worry about acceptance or rejection.
I didn’t fear reactions.
At that time, I genuinely didn’t believe anyone was watching closely enough for it to matter.
My q***rness existed, but it sat quietly in the background while I dealt with much bigger storms.
And that’s a reality many q***r, care‑experienced people know all too well.

Here's to all of you who...

💛 grew up without traditional family support
💛 had to figure out identity alone
💛 carry layers of trauma, resilience, and strength
💛 learned to build their own sense of belonging
💛 show up in the world with courage, authenticity, and visibility.

Talking openly about being both q***r AND care experienced isn’t always easy — but it is crucial.

🌈💛 LivedExperience RepresentationMatters Authencity Inclusion Belonging Intersectionality LGBTQinCare PrideInCare FosteringCommunity YouthInCare VisibilityMatters

Last week, I had the privilege of leading a Pride History Month "lunch‑and‑learn" session with Virgin Media O2 — and it ...
02/03/2026

Last week, I had the privilege of leading a Pride History Month "lunch‑and‑learn" session with Virgin Media O2 — and it reminded me just how important these conversations are.

People often talk about coming out as a defining life moment.
But for me… that moment never really happened.
✨ I never “came out” because I had no one to come out to.
Growing up in care meant my focus was survival, stability, and navigating trauma — not sexuality or identity disclosure.
I didn’t have parents to sit down with.
I didn’t worry about acceptance or rejection.
I didn’t fear reactions.
At that time, I genuinely didn’t believe anyone was watching closely enough for it to matter.
My q***rness existed, but it sat quietly in the background while I dealt with much bigger storms.
And that’s a reality many q***r, care‑experienced people know all too well.

Here's to all of you who...

💛 grew up without traditional family support
💛 had to figure out identity alone
💛 carry layers of trauma, resilience, and strength
💛 learned to build their own sense of belonging
💛 show up in the world with courage, authenticity, and visibility.

Talking openly about being both q***r AND care experienced isn’t always easy — but it is crucial.

🌈💛

Today is National Care Day (20th February 2026) — a moment to recognise, uplift and celebrate the experiences, strengths...
20/02/2026

Today is National Care Day (20th February 2026) — a moment to recognise, uplift and celebrate the experiences, strengths and voices of care‑experienced people everywhere.

My commitment to this work is lifelong and deeply personal. Through my talks, training and writing — including projects such as Care experience matters, Community Care magazine and my talks for Become, Virgin 02 and John Lewis. I continue to advocate for understanding, empathy, system change and improved outcomes for children and young people with care experience.

My work is rooted in:

• Challenging stereotypes and shifting public perception of what care experience actually is, as reflected throughout Community Care.

• Using storytelling and psychological insight to highlight resilience, growth and identity — themes I explore in Care experience matters and my “Rising As Me” talks.

• Supporting professionals across education, social care, foster care and mental health, ensuring they feel equipped to offer compassionate, trauma‑informed support.

• Championing care‑experience as a superpower, something I reiterate across my presentations and training resources.

• Driving system improvement, working with strategic partners and leaders to advocate for better structures, better understanding, and better outcomes for our young people.

National Care Day is not just a date in the calendar, it is a reminder of why this work matters every single day. To every care‑experienced person: your story is powerful, your voice is needed, and your future is full of possibility. And to every professional, ally and advocate: thank you for playing your part in creating environments where care‑experienced people are truly seen, valued and supported.

I remain committed — personally and professionally — to using my platform, training and lived experience to keep this conversation alive and to keep pushing for the change our community deserves.

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at Hogarth Primary School during their Aspiration Week. My session ...
04/02/2026

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at Hogarth Primary School during their Aspiration Week. My session focused on the power of ambition and career goals, and I shared how my own journey as someone who is care-experienced has shaped my aspirations.

Initially scheduled for just 20 minutes, I found myself engaged for a full hour! The Year Six students were not only attentive but eager, literally jumping out of their seats to ask questions. Their enthusiasm and curiosity were infectious, reminding me of the importance of nurturing these young minds.

What stood out was how much they absorbed. I went there to inspire them, but they ended up inspiring me in return. Their energy and focus were a testament to what can happen when we connect with our youth and encourage them to dream big.

A huge thank you to Rachel King, the wonderful teacher who booked me, for being so hospitable and making this experience unforgettable.

This experience has reinforced my commitment to engaging with young audiences and sharing my story as a motivational speaker. Together, we can empower the next generation to chase their dreams relentlessly!

Address

29 Orange Tree Hill
Havering Atte Bower
RM4

Telephone

+447712105715

Website

http://parisbartholomew.com/

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