When all you need is a hug: personal experiences of the UK care system | Lemn Sissay | TEDxLiverpool

Lemn takes us on a heart-rending personal journey of growing up in NW England care system in the 70’s and 80’s. He speaks about how this influenced his own character and behaviour and was also the inspiration behind The Christmas Dinners for care leavers in Manchester in 2012, which today take place throughout England.

Follow Lemn on @LemnSissay Lemn Sissay is a creative tour de force. Poet, playwright, broadcaster and actor his genius has touched the world. Not bad for a lad from Wigan who’s childhood was in the UK care system in the 70’s and 80’s.

His presence has been felt at the US Library of Congress to the Botanic Gardens of Singapore to the London 2012 Olympics. Lemn is Chancellor of the University of Manchester. His play ‘Something Dark’ is on The National Curriculum as a choice text for our children.

And in 2017 he acted for the first time playing Scully in Jim Cartwright’s ROAD at the Royal Court Theatre. Lemon started The Christmas Dinners for care leavers in Manchester in 2012, and today they take place throughout England. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx