Pure Insight is delighted to celebrate the achievements of Richard, who won the Outstanding Volunteer (Individual) Award at the Bentley Thank You Event and Awards on 15 October 2026.

Richard received the award in recognition of his exceptional compassion, dedication and the life-changing support he provides to care-experienced young people.

New research led by Pure Insight's Peer Action Collective (PAC) team has revealed how relationships with adults, services and peers can influence care-experienced young people's vulnerability to violence and exploitation.

Pure Insight's peer researchers, who have lived experience of the care system themselves, spoke to 66 young people across Cheshire and Greater Manchester. The research highlights a powerful message that too often, decisions about young people in care are made without their voices being heard.

Last week it was revealed that nearly £1 million has been awarded by Coram to support a new project telling the story of the UK's care-experienced campaigning movement. Titled "Speaking for Ourselves", the programme will focus on preserving artefacts from the 1970s onwards, preserving the stories of care-experienced people to address a gap in our country's social history.

Volunteering as a mentor for care-experienced young people can be one of the most rewarding and challenging endeavours one can undertake. Emma, Richard, and Sheila, all dedicated mentors with Pure Insight, share their journeys and insights, providing a glimpse into the profound impact such mentorship can have, not only on the young people but also on the mentors themselves.

Pure Insight supported Bex from the age of 18. Being a care leaver is isolating due to constant movement and Bex wanted to meet like-minded individuals and hoped to find a community of people she could relate to. Read her story.