When you think of Fatima Whitbread, the first thing that likely comes to mind is her remarkable achievements in athletics. But beyond her accolades as a world-class javelin thrower, Fatima has a deep, personal connection to the care system—a connection that fuels her relentless advocacy for children in care today.
In a recent interview with NYAS, Fatima opened up about her early life and her dedication to improving the lives of young people in the care system. Her story is one of resilience, survival, and an unyielding determination to make a difference for the next generation.
"Sport Was My Saviour"
Fatima’s journey began in the most challenging of circumstances. “I was abandoned as a baby—some would say, left to die. A neighbour heard a baby crying. She hadn't seen anybody coming or going to the flat in two days, so she called the police, who banged the door down and rescued the baby, which was myself.” Fatima then spent six months recovering in hospital, under the care of Hackney Borough Council.
She spent the first 14 years of her life in children's homes, the landscape of which was tough to navigate. “Back in the '60s, it was a very bleak time, and emotional needs were probably not being met,” she recalls. Yet, even in the darkness, Fatima found a light—sport. “Sport was my saviour,” she says with conviction. “My athletic career was born out of the fact that I wanted to survive. I needed to find something I loved to do in order to survive the dark place that I was in.”
Fatima’s determination to not be defined by her circumstances is nothing short of inspiring. “I remember watching Mary Peters in the '72 Munich Olympics win the gold medal. She lifted the Olympic medal for pentathlon, and that's where a seed was planted, and the dream began,” she shares. “Little did I realise the amount of hard work involved, but then, I'm like a sponge to water where hard work's concerned.”
It was through her love of sport that she met her adoptive mother, Margaret Whitbread. Margaret was Fatima's javelin coach, and at the age of 14, Fatima was adopted by the Whitbread family.
A Fighter's Spirit
It’s clear that Fatima’s drive to excel wasn’t just about personal achievement—it was about survival. “I was a fighter and managed to survive the care system,” she says. “The harder the experience, the better the learning. As hard and tough as it is, there is a lot of growth in it.”
That fighter’s spirit has carried her through a successful athletic career and now fuels her tireless efforts to campaign for children in care. “I want to help improve the life outcomes for our young people,” Fatima asserts. “That’s really what Fatima’s UK Campaign is striving to do—to improve the care and the service that we provide for our young children in the care system and also for our young care leavers at the 18 to 25 year stage, where they're becoming young adults.”
"Children Are Our Future"
Fatima is adamant that the issues facing children in care are not being given the attention they deserve. “It’s just not being spoken about, and it’s been brushed under the carpet so many times,” she says. But she’s determined to change that. “Children are our future. We've got to ensure that children and young people matter, that they’re seen, heard, and valued.”
To bring about this change, Fatima is working on rejuvenating the care sector with Fatima’s UK Campaign. She envisions a collaborative, national framework where Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and England share good practices and knowledge to improve outcomes for young people.
“It's time to make change, and Fatima's UK campaign is here to bang those doors down and make sure that change happens.”
Fatima Whitbread
Campaigning with a Purpose
Fatima’s commitment to the cause goes beyond words. She has put her body and mind to the test to raise awareness and funding for children in care. Last year, she completed three gruelling challenges—walking 100 miles in 36 hours nonstop in the South Downs, running the London Marathon, and finishing off with the Three Peaks Challenge. This year, she took to the mountains and headed to Everest Base Camp, all in the name of children in care.
“These are things I probably would have done on my bucket list, but I like to do them for a good cause—and none better than the one that’s closest to my heart,” she says with a smile.
A Vision for a Better Future
Fatima Whitbread is no stranger to hard work, and she knows that improving the care system won’t be easy. But she’s committed to the fight. “That's what's needed to improve the care life outcomes for our young people,” she says. “And hopefully, the Four Nations coming together will share and collaborate about their different care reviews.”
As our conversation comes to a close, Fatima leaves us with a powerful message: “It’s time to make change, and it’s time to ensure these young people have a brighter, healthier, happier future.”
Fatima Whitbread’s journey from a baby abandoned to a world-class athlete and now a passionate advocate for children in care is nothing short of extraordinary. She is living proof that no matter how dark the start, with resilience and determination, a brighter future is possible—and she’s determined to make that future a reality for every child in care.
