In the autumn last year, I made a small but powerful commitment. I became an ‘independent visitor', a volunteer who supports a child or young person in care by meeting them regularly and building a trusted, supportive relationship, ideally over a number of years.

It involves spending time together (often involving food, in our case!), being a listening ear, and being a consistent presence in their life, as they navigate the challenges of growing up in care. I haven't been doing it for long, but I can already see how valuable this kind of relationship can be – for both of us.