Black History Month: 'Being Black' with Clair Graham on the Birmingham Children's Trust podcast

Published: 16th Oct 2024

On this week's Birmingham Children's Trust podcast, Clair Graham sits down with Melissa Jackson to discuss how they help children navigate their identity...

Our third and final special Black History Month episode of the Birmingham Children's Trust podcast is here!

Hosted by Melissa Jackson, manager for the Develop Me mentoring programme, this week's special guest is none other than Clair Graham, Head of Service for Contextual Safeguarding. 

Clair is a foster carer herself, and speaks candidly about the process of first discovering, and then helping her foster son understand his identity in preparation for life ahead. 

"It's important when we're placing or matching children to foster carers that their identity needs can be met. Because it's not just about race, it's about culture, it's about understanding the value base of where you come from, it's about the DNA of your family and your ancestral links."

Clair Graham on helping foster children navigate their identity

It's a fascinating episode that also touches upon the work Lifelong Links does in establishing those familial and ancestral links children in foster care are so often left without. Clair also discusses what it means as a black woman to see positive black role models in your professional environment. 

Make sure to have a listen on Spotify below. 


You can also catch up with our first and second special Black History Month episodes here and here. The Birmingham Children's Trust podcast is also available on Apple Music. 


Birmingham Children's Trust and Birmingham City Council are coming together to host three volunteer recruitment days, with the aim of finding 100 new men to work with our children and young people. We specifically need more black men because it's important that we have volunteers that look like and represent our children and young people.

If you or anyone you know are interested in volunteering, please register your interest here: '100 Men' volunteer registration form.