I was born and raised in Barnet, and have lived here my entire life. I have deep rooted ties to the Child’s Hill ward in particular, as I spent a lot of my early childhood with my grandfather in Golders Green. My late grandfather was a Holocaust survivor, and served in the British Army after immigrating to Britain, as he believed in giving back to the country which had offered him a place of refuge. 

 As a child I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, which is a form of Autism. As a result of my Asperger’s, I found it difficult to communicate with others and form social connections with my peers in school. I needed a lot of support both from my school and from child mental health services to learn the skills necessary to function in a world that I found, at best, hostile and confusing.

Later, in my early teens, I had to be placed in foster care due to family issues at home. I found the changes to be overwhelming at first. My foster carer, however, showed real compassion towards me and was always reassuring. She especially showed real understanding of my communication difficulties. Over time I learned to overcome my difficulties and began to understand more about the world I lived in.

Getting support for my Asperger’s, both from the community, and then later receiving care from my foster carer made me realise how much of a difference communities can make to those who are vulnerable and in need. The support I had been given changed my life for the better, and because of this, I wanted to give back to society and help others, just as others had helped me.