Reflective thread: In talking to Em about my childhood I realised how lucky I was to grow up surrounded by fiercely strong women who loved & shaped me & taught me more than books ever could! There was no deficit in having a single mum not least because she was incredible but I...

also had this coven of wonderful women around me who taught me that family is not about blood ties. Who took me in as a frightened child when my mum was in hospital for months on end & nurtured me through traumatic experiences. Whose homes became refuges when I was a teenager...

struggling with belonging & identity. Who showed me different ways of seeing the world & taught me the value of diversity & inclusion. Who debated with me as an equal throughout my childhood; encouraging my curiosity & empowering my burgeoning activism. Who were stalwarts in...

their working class communities, paving the way for the women & girls behind them. Who were trailblazers championing LGBTQ+ rights when very few were; fighting section 28 & challenging gatekeepers to recognise & support trans women as women. Most of them aren’t here anymore...

I’m sad I can’t tell them the impact they’ve had on my life, but I’m grateful every day for their love & wisdom. My best friend has a 1yr old daughter who I love more than I thought was possible & I hope one day she might feel this way about me. That's a legacy I’d be proud of