Foster Care Fortnight: Leon Reid on growing up in care
8 May 2025
This Foster Care Fortnight, we spoke with our ambassador, former Olympian and Commonwealth medallist Leon Reid, about his journey through foster care. From the age of four, Leon moved through around 14 foster homes. Here, he shares his experiences, the challenges he faced, and the people and moments that shaped his life.
Can you remember when you first went into foster care?
It’s all a bit of a blur. I was about four or five. I remember playing in a paddling pool with my brother, then suddenly being in a car with my aunt and uncle. Back then, it just felt like I was always on the move. I was told I wasn’t going to live with my mum and dad anymore, but at that age, I didn’t really understand what that meant. I thought maybe this was just how life worked. We lived with my aunt and uncle for a while, but brother was going through a really difficult time and it became hard for them to manage, and so we moved into foster care. We stayed together for a while, but as we needed different kinds of support, they decided it would be better to place us separately.
What was it like moving between families?
It became normal to me. Every so often, it was a new house, a new school, a new set of friends. You start to notice that people treat you a bit differently. Teachers knew my background, and I often felt labelled as the kid with no parents. You also pick up very early on which foster carers are doing it because they care, and which are doing it just for the money. Kids are really perceptive, especially when you’ve had to grow up fast.
With every move, you carry a file that follows you, and I sometimes felt that families can sometimes judge you based on what’s written in it. I remember being about nine, arriving at a new foster home, and bursting into tears because I wanted them to see that I wasn’t just the kid in that report - I was so much more than that.
What was it like being part of different families?
When I think about my childhood, it’s mostly in flashes - different houses, different routines. I can’t really remember birthdays or Christmases the way other kids do. I didn’t let myself get excited about those days because I didn’t want to be disappointed. It was hard fitting into new families, and sometimes just when you thought you were making progress, you’d be moved again. Sometimes it could feel like I was on trial, trying to prove myself so I wouldn’t have to leave. You end up adapting, becoming a chameleon to survive. But in doing that, you can lose sight of who you are. That said, not every foster carer was the same - there were some incredible people who really made a difference in my life.
How was school life for you?
It was hard to have long-term friendships because I moved around so much, but I always found ways to make friends, usually through sport. Sport became a huge part of my life. It gave me something to look forward to and a way to connect with people. But keeping up with schoolwork was difficult. Moving schools so often meant I was constantly trying to catch up on lessons and adapting to different teaching styles. It was hard to maintain a consistent education, and that made it feel like I was always behind. Even when everything else was changing, sport was a constant. It gave me some stability.
Is that how you discovered your love for sport?
Yes, the foster carer I now call “mum” let me try every after-school club going. I became pretty good at most sports; football, basketball, cricket, tennis. Later, a PE teacher noticed how fast I was and suggested I try athletics. I met a coach near Bristol, and thanks to support from my social worker Simon, I got the kit I needed and started competing. By 15, I was in the UK’s top 10 for the 100m, 200m, and long jump, and an internationally recognised athlete. That opened doors and I earned a full college scholarship and eventually a place on Team GB.
What was it like when you turned 18?
I moved into supported living, a kind of halfway house where you pay rent. At first, it was okay — I got on well with the family’s son and we’re still friends today. But when the carer’s partner moved in, I had to leave. There’s not much support once you leave care at 18. I was lucky because I had athletics, but financially I was struggling. I didn’t have savings or a permanent place to live, so I sofa-surfed, while focusing on training and trying to get sponsorship deals.
What kept you motivated?
Even as a kid, I knew what I didn’t want. I saw the effects of drug addiction in my family and I knew that wasn’t the life I wanted. My brother and I were close, but we ended up on very different paths, and he’s been in and out of prison. Athletics gave me something to focus on, and my coach helped me find my “why” — why I was working so hard, why I wanted to succeed. That sense of purpose kept me going, even when things got tough.
What do you think makes a good foster carer?
A good foster carer is someone who really wants to be part of that child’s life, to help them grow and thrive and become the best version of themselves. I didn’t always have that because I was moved around so much, but I know there are some amazing foster carers out there. The ones who are genuinely curious about the child in their care, who take the time to understand them - they make a real difference.
Looking forward, where do you see yourself?
I really want to advocate for young people growing up in care. I do mentoring work now, and I think that comes from not having many people like that when I was younger - apart from my coach, who was always there for me. He guided me, kept me focused, and believed in me, and that made such a difference. I want to be that kind of person for others. Someone they can turn to for advice or just a bit of encouragement.
Why did you become a Break Ambassador?
Because I believe in what Break is doing. Break feels like a family. It’s not just about foster carers doing a job, it’s about creating real families. When I was growing up, I was placed in foster homes, but they didn’t always feel like families. They approach care differently — with long-term commitment, wraparound support, and a real belief in young people’s potential. That’s the kind of support that can change lives, and I’m proud to stand alongside them.
What would you say to young people at Break?
If you’ve got the support around you, and I know you do, let them in. Try new things, take chances, and figure out what you love. You never know where it might lead. Say yes to new experiences, because sometimes the smallest decision can change your life in ways you can’t imagine.
At Break, we provide long-term, wraparound support and stand beside young people as they take their next steps, whatever path they choose, and our foster families play a big part in this. And we’re there for our foster carers every step of the way too, offering dedicated guidance, training, and a strong community, so they’re never alone in making a life-changing difference.