In 2025, Bradley published a book about his life. It is called Shadow in the Dark. He writes about his time in foster care and in prison, and fighting for justice through the courts. Here, Bradley shares his journey.
Please note: this article mentions abuse.
First steps
I hadn’t done much writing before. I didn’t progress well at school as I was so distracted by the abuse. Later on, I had done a bit of college but my life was so troubled. Learning felt impossible when I was still dealing with the impact of abuse.
But I knew I had something within myself. What got me into writing was letters. I had written to my Support Coordinator about my needs. She said my letter was a really good piece of writing.
Sometimes, people need encouragement. They don’t know the skills they have; they don’t find out until later in their life. I’m fortunate to have been supported by Future Pathways. Without them, I might never have known the skill I had for writing.
In my own words
I thought I would try to write everything down as a book. I was hesitant at first. But I thought ‘just write from A to Z, from start to finish’. I did it to the best of my memory, intelligence, knowledge and truth.
Writing Shadow in the Dark gave me the chance to write about the way my life was and what I went through. And, importantly, it was in my own words. Instead of hearing about my experience in the words of a social worker, a police officer or a judge, I got to say it myself.
A sense of belonging again
When you have been abused in care, you can feel like the impact doesn’t end. My book describes dealing with social care, psychiatric care and the prison system.
When I was in prison, I was locked out of society. My book was like an introduction into society again. I’ve put something I have made into the world and it’s the best thing I’ve done in my life.
Now I can feel like I’ve achieved something. When I saw a copy of my book, I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘That’s me! I’ve done that! This is my words!’. It felt like the most positive step.
Calling for change
Abuse can cause huge destruction in people’s lives. For a long time, it was like I was chasing my own ghost and left with nothing. But through my book, I felt I could challenge people, get them to listen and hold them to account.
In Shadows in the Dark, I talk about my fight for recognition and going to court. When I got justice, I finally got some peace. I felt everything being returned: my dignity, my pride, my innocence and my self-respect.
But changes still need to be made. Professionals and services could do better. They need to protect people more, respond to abuse in the right way, and be better at dealing with perpetrators. I hope my book can help people see the changes that need to happen.
Raising awareness
I’ve started writing another book. This one is about mental health and my experience in hospital on a psychiatric ward. There is positive work in psychiatry, but it still needs improvement. When you are in such a vulnerable state, you really need to be taken care of.
People can make assumptions about others that have poor mental health. You don’t know what people are going through. Sometimes, when people hear the words ‘poor mental health’, they hear an alarm bell. They can feel fear, alarm or curiosity. Instead, I want people to be more understanding.
New ways of living
When you are dealing with your abuse, and you’re by yourself, you might turn to drugs for comfort. But now, I’m finding other avenues instead, like connecting more with other people. I joined Voices for a Better Future. They have all had difficult experiences, but they keep going. And they encourage me too: they show me that I’m not alone.
I hope my book helps people find other ways to cope too. I thought I could pull someone out of a hole by describing the hole I was in. Maybe people will connect to that. I am still here: my book shows you can survive.
Shadow in the Dark: A Memoir of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Bradley’s shares his life, from neglect and foster care, through addiction and time in prison. Throughout his book is a sense of resilience and fighting for justice. We see how facing the past can be a battle, but that a different future is possible.
Discover more
Bradley took part in our VOICES film series. Each person has their own unique story to tell; together they show resilience, change, determination, hope, healing and inspiration.
In his film, Bradley talks about owning his story, finding the courage to speak up, showing that that justice is possible – and that one voice can inspire another.
We hear from Jen Wood about what mindfulness is and how we can bring it into our daily lives. Jen Wood is one of our Delivery Partners.
About mindfulness
Mindfulness is about noticing what is happening right now. For example, we might notice:
- our feet on the floor
- our breathing
- sounds around us
- the feeling of holding a hot cup of tea
Mindfulness is not about clearing your mind or getting it ‘right’. Instead, it is about slowing down and noticing what is here.
How it helps
Many people live with stress, worry or difficult memories. Sometimes our minds can feel very busy. Mindfulness can help us pause and feel more steady.
Mindfulness does not take difficult things away. But it can help us notice when we are stressed or overwhelmed. It can also help us notice what might support us, like:
- taking a breath
- moving our body
- holding something comforting
- speaking to ourselves in a kinder way
By seeing what we need in the moment, we are showing ourselves compassion.
Bringing mindfulness into our everyday lives
Mindfulness can be very simple. You do not need special equipment. You do not need to
sit still for a long time. You could try:
- taking one slow breath before you start the day
- noticing the taste of your tea or coffee
- looking at the colour and shape of a leaf
- wiggling your toes when you feel overwhelmed
- putting one hand on your chest and noticing your breath
You can also bring mindfulness into things you already do. This might be walking, gardening, cooking, making something, or spending time with a pet. It helps to choose something that feels possible.
The main thing is to be gentle with yourself. Mindfulness is not about being perfect. It is about coming back to the present moment, one small moment at a time.
Health in Mind have a new resource. It is called ‘When someone says they’re not ok’. It is a guide for how to talk about mental health.
If you think someone seems out of sorts, it can be good to start a conversation about
mental health. This gives the person a chance to be heard. They can talk about how they
feel without bringing it up themselves. Sometimes, having these conversations can seem
difficult. So, here are a few tips to help you.
Know that it is OK to ask
We might worry that talking about mental health will make someone feel worse. But, asking if someone is ok is better than not asking at all.
Listen well
When you ask how someone is feeling, it is important to listen. Do not interrupt, try not to judge and do not feel you have to fix things.
Look after your own wellbeing
Emotional conversations might make us feel tired. Make sure to look after yourself too. Afterwards, you might go for a walk, do breathing exercises, or write down your feelings.
Know your own limits
Sometimes, we do not have the time or energy to be there. That is fine. You can always point the person to support and services so they can get more help.
Find out more
Health in Mind have lots of different resources so that people can learn how to improve wellbeing. You can view their latest booklet and more at health-in-mind.org.uk/resources
Michael published a book about his experience as a child in care. In this article, he tells us more about writing the book and his message to people.
Please note: this article mentions abuse.
Michael was taken into care as a toddler, and lived in different foster placements and institutions. He experienced neglect and abuse during his time in care.
Over 20 years ago, Michael got a phone call from the police. They were looking into reports about abuse at a children’s home in Edinburgh. The phone call brought back Michael’s memories of his childhood.
Michael says, ‘After that call, nothing was the same. And nothing would ever be the same again.’ But, in 2025, he chose to write a book about his experience.
What made you decide to write your book?
I didn’t want to share it at first. I wanted to write it down for myself as a form of therapy, just to get it out. I had seen umpteen counsellors and psychologists in the past who had been no help whatsoever in this situation. So, I thought writing it down for myself might help me.
How did you write the book?
I had thought about putting it all down in writing for quite a while. But I’m not very good at reading or writing so I thought ‘it won’t happen.’
Then Future Pathways put me in touch with the Book Whisperers. They weren’t there to judge. They were there to just put it in black and white on paper for me.
I did take a break for a couple of weeks when things got difficult, like when I was describing the abuse. But I also felt I had to go through the difficulties because, in the long-term, it would better to get it out there.
What was it like to hold a copy of your book in your hands?
I sat down and read it from start to finish. It was good to see it for myself and be able to read it. I could ‘claim’ it, I could say ‘this is me, this is what happened.’
Now, when people ask ‘what happened?’, I can say ‘buy the book, read the book’. It’s easier now that it’s all written down. I can’t change what happened but putting it into a book helped me so much.
What’s changed for you since writing the book?
From the time I got that phone call from Police Scotland, I was short tempered, like a bear with a sore head. And that phone call was over 20 years ago. Since writing the book, I’m not as tetchy, not as wound up. I’m more open to talking about things like this than I was before. It’s nowhere near as bad as it was for me before and writing the book is a major part of that.
Putting the words down, seeing it in writing and reading it for myself – it helped me get it off my back. A great weight was lifted.
How do you feel now that your book is in the wider world?
It feels weird to know I have a book out there now, spilling my guts about everything that has happened, for everyone to read. It’s not what I ever thought I would do, but I’m glad I have.
It felt good to have it out there, down in black and white, so other people could see that this happened, not just to me but to so many others. And it felt good that the book could help another person. If it could help even just one person, then my job was done.
Do you have a message or people reading the book?
I just want people to read it and think about what they’ve read. I want them to just to be aware that this did happen, and it still does. It’s not something that can be swept under a carpet any longer. It is something that needs to be openly talked about.
People have more knowledge nowadays because of the Inquiry and things like that. But I don’t know if they fully understand the scale that it happened at. My story is just a small part of the bigger picture.
I know this happened over 50 years ago for me now, but it’s still happening and there are still children being hurt. So, I think people just need to read about it and just think about it. I wanted the book to be a voice for people who had been through what I’d been through but didn’t have the courage to come forward.
What would you say to someone who hasn’t told anyone else what has happened to them?
I’d hope that the book would encourage them enough to tell their partner or someone that they trust. Even if they don’t report it to the police, but just share it with another person. By sharing it, it will make it slightly better, slightly easier. Maybe they could come forward if they felt they weren’t alone.
Nowhere to call home
A story of extraordinary resilience, the redeeming power of love and the possibility of healing.