Fiona – PATCH Founder, Adoptee, Adopter & Advanced Practitioner – Social Worker – PATCH reflects my commitment to meaningful change. It is about truly seeing the child—their world, their journey, their experiences, their footprints—and understanding them in the context of everything around them. Anything less is negligent.

Too many children and families are still not fully seen. The belief that love alone is enough is flawed. Children need more than love and care to recover from their hurt—they need understanding, informed support, and approaches grounded in science and lived experience.

Blaming parents and carers for not  managing the impact of children’s hurt is a systemic failure. It overlooks the complexity of trauma, ignores the science, and dismisses both humanity and lived realities. Driving change is the central focus of PATCH.

Blaming parents and carers for harm they did not cause is unacceptable and demands a public apology. PATCH will keep fighting to expose and challenge professional failings rooted in a lack of ethics and values, and bias.

Jill – Journalist, child counsellor, single adopter, SEN School Governor. Experience of battling LA’s CAMHS, MAJ, Health & Social Care and Education system for my child. Dog and horse lover, swimmier and Tango dancer.

Richard – is the Scottish Lead for PATCH. Richard is an adoptive parent, who navigated complex challenges which  emerged years after family life started, during adolescence. Due to the significant failings Richard pursued legal action against North Lanarkshire Council (Human Rights Act). The case concluded with the Council covering legal costs and issuing a formal written apology acknowledging those failings. The case attracted BBC coverage, bringing wider public attention to the realities faced by adoptive families when support systems break down.

Richard’s continues to push for system change, using his experience and advocacy to ensure wider political scrutiny, including discussion within the Scottish Parliament. Which has meant some  commitments from the Scottish Government to make improvements.

Richard is Managing Director of Graphic Warehouse, a UK-based large-format print business. His commercial background brings a strategic and solutions-focused approach to PATCH.

Mel – Upon leaving school Mel became a legal secretary for 16 years and being in an office did not suit her (she used to arrive on her motorbike) but she learnt a great deal of transferrable skills. Subsequently went to university & obtained a Degree in Textile Design and became a Lecturer at Leeds College of Art. Also facilitated freelance community groups, including young people at risk of exclusion from education and inner-city areas of deprivation.

Mel experienced infertility, early menopause, divorce but was desperate to have children in her life so began fostering. After being a single foster carer for 4 years, she adopted two siblings who had suffered neglect and abuse, the children having a trauma bond; attachment issues; developmental trauma, and one has ASD and ADHD. Mel had to leave her career as it wasnt possible to manage both. She begged for support from the LA for over a decade, but was blamed and shamed instead of being listened to. Mel used her legal skills to enter in to ‘battle’ with the local authority who play dirty when challenged. Mel won a Tribunal for my son’s EHCP, and recently won a Family Court case against the local authority who wanted her son on a full care order but he wanted to continue on a Section 20. Mel has a close relationship with her children although they are a dysfunctional family!

Mel has been an independent Fostering Panel Member for 13 years. Mel has 3 rescue dogs and volunteers for a Romanian dog charity as well as being a fabulous admin leader for all PATCH member approvals and post approvals.

Ruth – Chartered Accountant, keen park runner and cat lover. Passionate about pre–Adoption Order breakdowns; negligence/lack of transparency at the point of matching and the lack of suitable support when new families are in crisis.

Verity – Adopter of 2, positively parenting one from a distance, who has severe attachment disorder and developmental traumas. Live with my husband, daughter, Beagle called Molly. Love dancing, reading swimming, going for coffee with friends. Work as a School Nurse in a Special School.

Lucy – Analyst, often end up metaphorical miles from where i started, falling down internet rabbit warrens. Keen to improve adoption support and transparency by social services. A dead lifter who is venturing into the world of Strong Woman Training, but also loves photography.

Jackie – A compassionate therapist with extensive personal experience in infertility, premature menopause, miscarriage, divorce, and adoption. As an experienced adopter from infancy to 25 years, I am passionate about supporting others through their healing journeys. I love life and embrace every challenge it presents, using my diverse background in various therapeutic modalities to empower individuals to heal and thrive.

Frances – Solicitor, CEDR mediator and court of protection professional Deputy. Professional expertise (35 years ) in catastrophic personal and medical injury, court of protection and professional Trusteeships. Working with adults and children with specialism in Neuro-rehabilitation and life changing catastrophic brain birth and spinal injuries.

Personal experience of infertility, premature menopause, miscarriage, divorce, sec 20 disruption, parent blame, false allegations, legal action and complaints action against unprofessional social workers and negligent Local Authorities.  Adopter of sibling girls one of whom is parented from a distance following severe CPV.

Passionate about helping to support others who are managing behavioural crisis, false allegations, complex multifaceted Neuro-diversities, Neuro developmental issues, early trauma, and the challenges of systemic blame, ignorant social workers and the lack of transparency and accountability of local authorities.

David – is an adopter, playwright, and SEND and human rights activist who has dedicated his life to improving the experiences and outcomes of children and young people. His work is driven by a strong belief that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and included, regardless of their background or needs.

He spent 30 years as a teacher, where he focused on understanding each child as an individual and supporting their unique strengths and challenges. He was especially committed to ensuring that children with additional needs were given the support, encouragement, and opportunities they deserve, helping them to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

Even after leaving teaching, David has remained closely connected to education. As a trade unionist, he continues to advocate for better conditions in schools because he knows that when teachers are supported, children benefit most. Through his work as a playwright and activist, he also helps to share life stories and raise awareness of SEND and human rights issues, always keeping the voices and experiences of young people at the heart of what he does.

Clare – is the lead for PATCH Wales. She is an adoptive parent of two teenagers and has maintained a strong friendship with their former foster carer and is forever grateful for the love and commitment given to them by her. Clare is a secondary school teacher who has taught Geography to many – from rap stars to Red Arrows pilots. Clare has vast experience of being judged in and out of court and has dealt with many Social Workers, Care Home Managers, Barristers, High Court judges, several police forces, birth family as well as having extensive knowledge of criminal exploitation gangs, DOLs and Secure Orders.

Clare and her husband enjoy the warm support of their youngest child’s Trauma Informed and Trauma Responsive school of which she is parent governor. Clare has a penchant for collecting fossils, particularly ammonites, browsing charity shops, attending concerts in her home city, travelling to Scandinavian countries and all things Jane Austen.