“I Don’t Feel Like a Single Parent Anymore”: How AllChild Helped a Mother and Son Flourish.
Three years ago, Luke Chapman wouldn’t look you in the eye. He mumbled his name into the ground when spoken to and struggled to express himself. His mum, Ladi Muhammad Chapman, remembers those days vividly - and painfully.
“He joined AllChild as a boy,” she says. “And he came out a young man.”
Luke’s story is one of quiet transformation - a story of confidence gained, voice found, and potential unlocked. And while he flourished through boxing classes, bike rides, farm visits, and cooking sessions, something just as powerful was happening behind the scenes. His mum was changing too.
“As a single mother raising a Black boy in West London, every day comes with worry,” Ladi explains. “You ask yourself, will he be okay? Will he come home safe? Most days, things are fine - until they’re not.”
One of those days came just a few weeks ago. Luke returned home shaken - his friend had been held up and his mobile phone stolen, and Luke had witnessed it. He couldn’t even speak to his mum about it at first. But Ladi knew who to call.
“I reached out to Caroline - his Link Worker at AllChild - and she stepped in straight away. Even though Luke graduated from the programme, she’s still there. She still talks to him. And to me. That support hasn’t stopped.”
That’s what makes AllChild different.
It’s not just a programme for children. It’s a safety net for parents. A community. A team. A reminder that you’re not raising your child alone. Our Impact Programme is a carefully sequenced collection of activities and services, facilitated by our Link Workers. We connect children and their families to the right school and community services in the right way at the right time, and ‘micro-commission’ specialist partners wherever gaps or barriers exist.
“When Luke’s Link Worker would check in with me, text me updates - it felt like I was co-parenting. I wasn’t doing this all on my own anymore.”
Today, Luke is thriving. Recently, he stood up in Parliament and confidently shared his AllChild journey. His voice is steady. His eyes are bright. He knows he’s capable of great things - and now, so does his mum.
Why Link Workers Matter
Link workers are at the heart of the AllChild model. They don’t disappear when the programme ends. They build lasting, trusted relationships that children and families can lean on - through the good days and the hard ones.
“AllChild didn’t just change Luke’s life,” Ladi says. “It transformed mine.”
Help AllChild Reach More Families
Ladi’s story is inspiring - but it’s not unique. There are so many more Ladis. So many more Lukes. And so many more parents who just need to know someone is in their corner.
You can help us expand our reach.
You can help more children and young people flourish - and help more parents feel less alone. Since launching in 2016, AllChild has worked with around 6,000 children and young people, in over 60 primary and secondary schools, with around 200 charity partners (including 50 as formal delivery partners).
Click here to donate.
