Meet Our Team
Fatima Whitbread MBE
Founder and Chair
Fatima spent the first 14 years of her life in children's homes after being abandoned as a baby. After being fostered, she went on to break the javelin world record and win world and European Championship gold. Fatima now campaigns to improve the care system and ensure children in care are "seen, heard and valued". She represents the care system sector and celebrate our young children, the remarkable resilience they show. Fatima founded the Campaign as she believes that there is still significant progress to be made in helping the care experienced with a better start in life. She understands how a nurturing and supportive environment can help children and young people. She believes in creating positive change through collaboration.
Gina Gardiner
Vice Chair
I’d like to introduce you to Gina Gardiner, the Vice Chair of Fatima’s UK Campaign. We met at a keynote speaking event, where my talk focused on sharing my lived experience and my mission, whereas Gina’s focused on her mission, which is to bring about positive change through the development of Enlightened Leadership – leading with integrity, compassion and courage. Our chance meeting quickly developed into a powerful partnership, where we both bring the strengths of our experience and our passion, as we work together to make a lasting difference. We set up the charity together and are now working tirelessly to create the ‘One Voice Summit’, in order to bring about positive change for those who experience the care system.
Our Partners
Fatima's UK Campaign partners with organisations in order to promote collaboration and better outcomes for care-experienced children and young people. Click on the images to find out more about our partnerships.
World Mental Health Forum Partnership
We are delighted to announce that the World Mental Health Forum and Fatima's UK Campaign are now in partnership. Fatima Whitbread MBE and Gina Gardiner met for the first time at a World Mental Health Forum event, where they were both keynote speakers at Westminster Chapel in October 2023.
A very high percentage of those who go through the care system experience mental health issues caused by the trauma they endured as children—and often continue to face as adults. Sadly, within two years of leaving care, over a third become homeless.
Both Gina and Fatima have worked closely with the World Mental Health Forum at its events and were thrilled to welcome Harald Azman as a guest at their recent 'One Voice Summit' at the Guildhall in London, which shone a spotlight on the challenges faced by young people in care.
"This historic partnership is built on a shared mission: to empower, inform, and engage. Mental health and wellbeing are everyone's business. All children deserve—and need—a safe and happy childhood if we are all to live happier, healthier lives in a kinder society."
Fatima's UK Campaign has been working with Sean Ryder (Happy Mondays) and Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr's son) on something extra special - an anthem for children and young people in and from the care system.
Keep your eyes peeled and ears open for the Campaign's song, which will bring awareness and positivity to a much-needed cause.
Our Supporters
