A 21-year-old from Poole has met Her Royal Highness Princess Anne while receiving an award for public speaking.
Being honoured at the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum, Rylee Dickinson, who now lives in Christchurch, talked about how she grew up in care from the age of 13.
Rylee said it was an incredible experience and something she will take with her for the rest of her life. She said: “As soon as I went into care I was told that I would be moving to Derbyshire, and from there I was up and down the country every three months moving in and out of different accommodation. I joke about it now, but it was really tough.”
One of the only relationships to survive Rylee’s transition from childhood to adulthood is with her Personal Advisor at BCP Council, who continues to play a positive, influential role in her life and the successes she has gone on to achieve.
Rylee has lived in several “awful” hostels and supported-living accommodations since leaving care, but has recently benefitted from a more positive experience in council housing back on the south coast.
“My council flat is great, some of my previous accommodations have been so dark and depressing they took a toll on my mental health, but this one is far lighter and airier, giving me the space I need to grow as a person and address bad habits.”
She also continues to spend a significant amount of time at the 333 in Bournemouth, a facility she helped build in 2021 which provides a safe space for care-experienced young people to relax, socialise and learn.
“I was involved with the 333 project from the very start and took on a lead role which meant I was included in several project meetings during construction phases. Later on, the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum asked us to film a short video detailing our project. I was the only person to show interest and so wrote, recorded and narrated my own video.”
Shortly after her submission, Rylee’s film saw the 333 shortlisted for the organisations’ ‘project of the year’ award, with the then 20-year-old invited to attend the ceremony and give a 10-minute presentation detailing the standout features and successes of the project.
More than 150 Care Managers from several counties were in attendance, with Rylee drawing on the skills and experience she had previously developed through speaking at other public events organised by foundations such as The Prince’s Trust – founded by King Charles III.
“It’s not something I struggle with, I understand why it can unnerve some people but I don’t feel that way. I feel like I’ve already overcome so many obstacles in my life that public speaking isn’t a daunting task in comparison.”
Rylee’s ability to rise to the challenge of public speaking, despite some of the obstacles she has faced in her life, has now seen her claim the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum’s annual ‘Public Speaker of the Year’ prize. The now 21-year-old won the award to applause from many significant individuals in the care sphere, including Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, a patron of Catch 22; the organisation which formed the National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum.
“I like to say it’s just my average Tuesday,” joked Rylee, who later engaged in a discussion with the Royal about her achievements. “It was an incredible experience and something I will take with me for the rest of my life.
“It has spurred me on to continue pushing forward and breaking down barriers, and my message to anyone else in care would be to do the same.”
Discussing Rylee’s achievements, Councillor Richard Burton, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People at BCP Council, said:
“I was impressed by Rylee ever since I first met her at the BCP Corporate Parenting Board. She is so willing to help voice the thoughts of care-experienced young people, using her time and skills to champion their cause. She is a great role model to children in care.
“I would like to personally congratulate Rylee on all of her outstanding accomplishments to date, and I’m excited to see what else she will go on to achieve alongside our other talented care-experienced young people.”
