EAST RENFREWSHIRE SOCIAL WORK (Talk at development day)
"Declan provided an honest, articulate, and powerful account of his journey through care. The narrative covered early experiences, placement stability, relationships with practitioners, transitions into adulthood, and the long-term impact of both positive and negative interventions of being looked after. Declan’s delivery was engaging, emotionally grounded, and highly relatable. His ability to connect real-life experiences to professional behaviours and decision-making brought valuable insight to the team. He did this by balancing humour with difficult life experiences."
Feedback from Staff Common themes from informal feedback included:
· Appreciation of Declan’s honesty and courage.
· Increased motivation to ensure children feel heard and valued.
· Recognition of the importance of small acts of kindness and reliability.
· A desire for more lived-experience-led learning sessions in the future.
PAISLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL (Mentoring)
"Declan worked closely with a group of teenage boys, focusing on challenging behaviours and shaping positive attitudes through a relatable, experience-led approach. Drawing on his own personal journey, he was able to connect authentically with the group, creating a space where the boys felt understood, respected, and open to change. Declan’s style was highly engaging and adaptive, allowing him to respond effectively to individual needs while maintaining a strong group dynamic. Feedback from the boys was overwhelmingly positive and they reported enjoying the sessions, valuing Declan’s honesty and approachability, and feeling better equipped to make constructive, informed choices moving forward."
HAUS OF SEISAY (Young Person Talks)
"Declan Andrews has delivered a number of sessions at Haus Of Seisay, and his impact on our young people has been outstanding. It’s incredibly valuable for them to have a positive role model who has overcome similar hurdles to those they often face. Declan is passionate, understanding, and brings real authenticity to his work. He delivers powerful sessions with genuine connection and relatability. Any organisation working with young people would greatly benefit from having Declan involved—he is a real asset."