We are privileged to share the latest project from Voices for a Better Future.
Voices for a Better Future is a lived experience voice group. The group brings together people who are, or have been, supported by Future Pathways. Members of the group want to make a difference for others with experience in care.
Voices for a Better Future started in 2022. Since then, the group has flourished. They have worked together on a range of projects and supported each other through their own personal challenges and achievements.
Throughout their work is a real sense of hope for the future and that change is possible. Members were keen to create a film project to share their own powerful messages, and to inspire others to speak up and speak out.
VOICES brings together individual films from 6 members of Voices for a Better Future: Bradley, Gordon, Joyce, Pauline, Rikki and Yvonne. Each person has their own unique story to tell; together they show resilience, change, determination, hope, healing and inspiration.
With thanks to creative communications agency Electrify, who bring a genuinely collaborative and caring approach in supporting people to share their experiences.
“When we talk about our work being a privilege, none exemplifies that more than working with Future Pathways and (especially) the Voices for a Better Future group. Getting to know this incredible group of people has been a joy, hearing about their experiences was an honour, and getting to film them as they talk about their lives is one of the best things I’ve done in my career. I hope these six films help others who have had negative experiences of the Scottish care system to reach out and seek support, and to see that hope and a future is possible.”
Pete, Senior Communications Partner, Electrify
Yvonne
From being unheard to standing up in court for others, Yvonne’s story shows the power of someone saying “I believe you”.
“I am sharing my story to remind fellow survivors that there is hope. You are not alone and your past does not define the beautiful, fulfilling life you are capable of living.”
Bradley
Owning his story and finding the courage to speak up, Bradley shows that justice is possible – and that one voice can inspire another.
“I wanted to speak out. Justice is everyone’s right. It doesn’t fix the damage, but helps deal with it all.”
Joyce
Through sheer determination and creativity, Joyce built a life and a home for her family – and now uses her strength to help others.
“I took part in the video to reach out to other survivors. Future Pathways are there to help all survivors and making that first phone call is the first step to dealing with your past. You will get help and support tailored to your needs. Today can bring about a better future.”
Gordon
From the East End of Glasgow to a military life of discipline and fighting for those who can’t, Gordon proves you are not defined by where you start.
“I know that I am honoured to have been able to participate in the project. The message I would like my video to relay is that, for people that feel that they are stuck in a way of life that appears to have no future, you can change things if you change pathways. You can make things better when you plan your future and work at it.”
Pauline
Volunteering and working with an organisation that supports those leaving care, Pauline shows how support and connection can turn survival into purpose.
“I wanted to let care experienced people know that they have a voice and they should be listened to. I feel proud of being an advocate of Who Cares? Scotland – they are a really strong, sincere and supportive community. I’m also glad that people can get support from Future Pathways, wherever you are on your journey.”
Rikki
After a life of helping others, Rikki’s journey reminds us that true strength comes from learning to heal yourself too.
“I took part because I wanted to show that survival isn’t the end of the story — it’s the beginning. Speaking openly about my journey felt like laying down a stone on the path for someone else to step on. If my film helps another survivor find their rhythm again, or feel even a moment of belonging, then it’s done its job.”
From being unheard to standing up in court for others, Yvonne’s story shows the power of someone saying “I believe you”.
Yvonne takes us on a journey of justice and the quest for the truth. She talks to us about making sense of the past, seeking acknowledgement and speaking up for others. We find out about her voluntary work with Victim Support Scotland, her own criminal justice process and the next steps on her path to helping others.
“I am sharing my story to remind fellow survivors that there is hope. You are not alone and your past does not define the beautiful fulfilling life you are capable of living.”
About Victim Support Scotland
Victim Support Scotland is a charity dedicated to supporting people affected by any type of crime throughout Scotland. They offer free, independent and confidential support for victims, witnesses and their families.
Anyone can access their support, regardless of when the crime took place, what type of crime it is or if it has been reported to the police. Victim Support Scotland take a person-centred approach. This means that people impacted by crime can access support in a way that is tailored to their individual needs.
Owning his story and finding the courage to speak up, Bradley shows that justice is possible – and that one voice can inspire another.
Bradley talks to us about his life in care and the significant failures of the system which was meant to keep him safe. He shares excerpts from his book Shadow in the Dark, his powerful memoir of survival, resilience and justice. With thanks to The Book Whisperers, who supported Bradley in writing, editing and publishing his book so that the world could hear his story.
“I wanted to speak out. Justice is everyone’s right. It doesn’t fix the damage, but helps deal with it all.”
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.
The Book Whisperers
The Book Whisperers work closely with individuals to support them in writing and creating their own books – whether for catharsis, legacy, publication, or a combination of all three. They support a wide range of projects, from memoirs to novels, and poetry collections to memory books – with every programme tailored to the individual’s goals.
Through personalised guidance and encouragement, they help clients build skills, confidence and self-esteem, find and strengthen their unique voice, and feel empowered to share their stories with clarity and purpose.
Through sheer determination and creativity, Joyce built a life and a home for her family – and now uses her strength to help others.
Joyce shares the key moments of her life: from childhood trauma, grief and single parenthood to pursuing education and building her own home. Through it all, Joyce shows boundless creativity, from knitting and weaving to generously sewing clothes for babies at Ninewells Hospital at NHS Tayside. Joyce highlights how creativity can bring healing and determination can bring change.
“I took part in the video to reach out to other survivors. Future Pathways are there to help all survivors and making that first phone call is the first step to dealing with your past. You will get help and support tailored to your needs. Today can bring about a better future.”
From the East End of Glasgow to a military life of discipline and fighting for those who can’t, Gordon proves you are not defined by where you start.
Gordon looks back over his life, from his time in care as a child, to the pivotal moment in his teenage years in Glasgow that changed the course of his life forever. He shares how he went on to choose a life of service and standing up for others. Gordon shows how difficult starts do not need to define us: we can be proud of the lives we build for ourselves.
“I know that I am honoured to have been able to participate in the project. The message I would like my video to relay is that, for people that feel that they are stuck in a way of life that appears to have no future, you can change things if you change pathways. You can make things better when you plan your future and work at it.”
Volunteering and working with an organisation that supports those leaving care, Pauline shows how support and connection can turn survival into purpose.
Whether it’s writing or speaking, Pauline shows us the power of words to make change in the world. Pauline passionately uses her voice to advocate for care experienced people. She challenges stigma, campaigns for support and takes us inside Who Cares? Scotland to find out more.
“I wanted to let care experienced people know that they have a voice and they should be listened to. I feel proud of being an advocate of Who Cares? Scotland – they are a really strong, sincere and supportive community. I’m also glad that people can get support from Future Pathways, wherever you are on your journey.”
Who Cares? Scotland
Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Its mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland.
At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work is the rights of Care Experienced people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. It provides individual, relationship-based independent advocacy, and a range of participation and connection opportunities for Care Experienced people.
After a life helping others, Rikki’s journey reminds us that true strength comes from learning to heal yourself too.
Rikki has travelled all over the world, bringing warmth and generosity of spirit to everyone he meets. Back in the UK, he continues shining his light by supporting fellow stroke survivors on their journey. Having learned to live with the effects of two strokes, Rikki shows us how important it is to find your strength again.
“I took part because I wanted to show that survival isn’t the end of the story — it’s the beginning. Speaking openly about my journey felt like laying down a stone on the path for someone else to step on. If my film helps another survivor find their rhythm again, or feel even a moment of belonging, then it’s done its job.”
Voices for a Better Future is our lived experience voice group. May 2026 marks four years of the group’s work. Find out more.
Voices for a Better Future is a lived experience group. Every member is registered with Future Pathways. The group works with staff at Future Pathways and at other services on different projects. The group started in May 2022 and have all worked so hard in making a difference. Here are a few of the projects they have been involved with.
Co-designing Peer Support
In 2023, Voices for a Better Future worked with Future Pathways to look at how we might develop peer support. Through the project, we learned that people we support wanted to come together, learn, share interests and support each other. This paved the way for our Peer Support programme.
Access to Records
Voices for a Better Future helped to create information and guidance about record searches. This was to help anyone who is trying to access their records from when they were a child. The group wanted to give advice and hoped that their booklet will make accessing your records a little bit easier.
Future Pathways’ animation
In this animation, we wanted to show what Future Pathways does, who we are for and the support we offer. We worked with Voices for a Better Future to do this. Their input was crucial.
The group helped us to show the perspective of someone on a journey of support, taking us on the path from before to during and after support. The animation shows how each individual is at the heart of support, taking their own pathway to a positive future.
Alliance Leadership Team
Two members of Voices for a Better Future are also part of the Alliance Leadership Team. This team makes sure that Future Pathways gives high quality support. Members from Voices for a Better Future bring their own personal insights and lived experience. They help to improve Future Pathways.
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Members are working with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. They are helping to make sure that this service works for people. For example, by making information more clear to survivors of abuse who are going through the criminal justice system.
Better Records Together
Members of the group worked with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Taking part in the Better Records Together campaign, members shared their experiences of accessing care records. Through this, they could highlight barriers and call for improvements in how people access records.
Find out more
You can view the latest updates and articles from Voices for a Better Future.
After 10 years at our Edinburgh office in Shandwick Place, Future Pathways is moving to Links House, 15 Links Place, Edinburgh, EH6 7EZ.
As an older townhouse building, Shandwick Place hasn’t always been the environmentally friendly and accessible space we would choose. We knew we wanted to find a space where nobody would face additional barriers to accessing support, and we’re excited to be moving somewhere where staff, people accessing services, and other visitors can feel safe, welcome, and supported.
Where to find us
Our new home at Suite G2, Links House is ground-floor, with step-free access to all the rooms, and disabled parking bays nearby. We’ve worked across the team to make sure it’s a sunny, welcoming and trauma-informed space, with comfortable, confidential spaces.
Links House is a short walk from the tram stop on Constitution Street, with nearby bus stops on Salamander Place, Somerset Place, and Duke Street, and there is plenty of on-street parking nearby.
Creativity can be a powerful force for good. It can help us express ourselves, set challenges and achieve new things. Here, we chat to Michael about his musical journey and get to listen to fantastic piano playing.
Can you tell us more about your musical journey – how it began, how it has developed over time?
Music has been a constant alongside my visual art, developing gradually over time through both curiosity and instinct. I am primarily a pianist, and my approach to playing and creating music is closely connected to how I make art — it is expressive, intuitive, and often shaped by mood.
@artisticgemini41 Allegro Moderato From Sonatina in G, Op. 300 #allegromoderato #köhler #yamahacsp170 #piano #musiciansoftiktok ♬ original sound – MjArt🎨
My musical journey didn’t follow a strictly traditional path. Instead, it evolved through exploration, experimentation, and a desire to understand sound more deeply. Over time, this has developed into both performance and composition, where I enjoy working with patterns, repetition, and subtle changes in pitch and harmony.
What’s the next step in your musical journey?
At the moment, I am particularly interested in developing my technical control on the piano, as well as expanding my understanding of musical structure and expression. I am also exploring opportunities to learn the pipe organ, which presents a new and exciting challenge — particularly in coordinating manuals and pedals, and navigating a much larger, more complex instrument.
What are your favourite pieces of music to play and why?
I enjoy playing pieces that allow for emotional expression and variation, but I am equally drawn to creating my own material. Composition gives me the freedom to experiment — for example, working through all twelve major keys within a single piece, or shifting harmonic structures while maintaining a consistent melodic idea. It becomes a way of exploring both sound and structure at the same time.
What does ‘the power of music’ mean to you?
The power of music, for me, lies in its ability to communicate what words sometimes cannot. It has a direct emotional impact, both for the person creating it and for those listening. Much like visual art, it allows me to process experiences, express ideas, and connect with others on a deeper level. Whether performing or composing, music remains an essential part of how I understand and navigate the world.
@artisticgemini41 #duet with @Michael J Christie Art🎨 #Duet #bachpreludecmajor #yamahacsp170 #csp170 #composersoftiktok #musicproduction ♬ original sound – MjArt🎨