Leona Orr explains how a charity has given her the opportunity to help others in similar circumstances Leona Orr is using her experiences of being in care to help other young people Breaking down barriers for care-experienced young people so they reach their goals is part of everyday work at Include Youth. The National Lottery-funded organisation is supporting young people like Leona Orr from Derry/Londonderry, to help them stay in education or land their dream job. For 21-year-old Leona, not only has Include Youth supported her, but it is also giving her the opportunity to use her experiences to make a difference in other young people’s lives, through a recent National Lottery Funded project.
“Everyone’s experience of being in care is different, but still very relatable to each other,” explains Leona. “I’ve been involved with Social Services since the day I was born, and I officially went into a care placement with my grandparents in Co Tyrone when I was nine. “I felt very privileged that I was able to live with my grandparents because that isn’t an option for a lot of young people in my situation, but I still pretended to my friends that it was my choice and I never told anyone about being involved with Social Services.
” Leona is now opening up about her experiences to help break the stigma for young people in care. She got involved with Include Youth in Derry/Londonderry two years ago as a youth mentor — referred to as an Expert by Experience (EBE). She.