'Artworks show people in care like everybody else'

Susan Vickers organised the exhibition, with Wolverhampton West MP Warinder Juss and mayor Craig Collingswood attending the official opening

A woman who was adopted as a child says arranging an exhibition of artwork revealing what make care-experienced people happy has been "a joy".

Susan Vickers, from Wolverhampton, approached the city's art gallery after noticing "cultural capital" was absent in many people's histories.

What Makes Us Happy: A Celebration of Joy, Hope & Human Connection features contributions from both children and adults and is on display at Wolverhampton Art Gallery until 29 August.

Ms Vickers, who offers support to the community through the Susan Vickers Foundation, said she hoped "care-experienced people will understand that they can go to these places and feel comfortable and they'll be welcomed".

Now 55, she said she came up with the idea for an art exhibition following research for books she has published about her experiences of growing up in care.

"I was fostered at three months, adopted at 18 months," she explained. "Nobody ever asked me how I felt about being fostered or adopted, how I was feeling at the time."

People with similar experiences got in touch to tell her they did not feel supported either. It led her to realise "more mental health support and better understanding" was still needed.

She launched the foundation 16 months ago to provide courses, therapy and regular meet-ups for children and families as well as adults still carrying trauma.

"We've supported so many families and it's just been wonderful," she said.

Paintings, images and objects have been contributed by people ranging in age from five to 72

Ms Vickers said many people she met told her they had never been to a gallery, theatre or museum, with people who had experienced foster care particularly impacted.

"They don't have the stability to have a local art gallery or a museum they might visit on a regular basis," she said. "It's a huge loss in people's lives.

Seeing contributors visiting their displayed artworks had been heart-warming, she said.

"Just to see their faces when they see something that they've done and experience that they didn't think was accessible to them, its just a joy."

The exhibition, which includes paintings of celebrities, biological family reunion photos and a drawing of a McDonald's meal, was officially opened by Wolverhampton's mayor, councillor Craig Collingswood, on Saturday.

Ms Vickers hopes it will give people a "better, rounded understanding of how care-experienced minds work".

"They're just like everybody else... we're not some alien race," she said. "Really all they need is a Happy Meal and to have a little pet with them and play football.

"I wished I'd have had something like this when I was younger, it would have made a world of difference."