"Lucy Barnes delivered one of the most powerful and memorable sessions at the Wokingham Virtual School Annual Conference in July 2025. She shared a deeply moving account of her own time in care, highlighting the carers who encouraged her to pursue a career in law and the determination it took to achieve her goals. Her honesty, vulnerability, and pride in her journey resonated with every person in the room.

Lucy’s passion for supporting care-experienced young people shone through as she facilitated a thoughtful and emotional discussion with two of our Wokingham Virtual School Ambassadors. They spoke courageously about their own experiences in care, the barriers they faced and how the Virtual School and trusted adults helped them achieve things they once believed were out of reach. There was not a dry eye in the audience. Many attendees later shared that this was their favourite part of the entire conference.

Lucy is a gifted, dedicated speaker with a natural ability to draw audiences in and deliver her message with impact, heart, and authenticity. Her contribution to our event was invaluable, and her advocacy for care-experienced young people continues to inspire us all."