Throughout my life, I have been reminded that the greatest reward is not found in reports, recognition or professional titles.
It is found in a child's smile.
A genuine smile can tell us so much. It may mean that a child feels safe, that they have been listened to, or that someone has shown them kindness. It may mean that, perhaps for the first time in a long while, they feel included, understood and valued.
A child's smile should never be dismissed as something small. Behind it may be a moment of trust, relief, hope or belonging.
When a child smiles, we are reminded why the work matters.
Since its establishment in 1987, The Michael Sieff Foundation has brought together dedicated professionals and leaders committed to improving child welfare, youth justice, SEND and neurodivergence.
Policies, services and professional practice are vital, but the Foundation has always believed that the child must remain at the centre of every decision.
Children should always be understood and treated as children first.
They are not statistics, problems to be managed or labels to be applied. They are individuals with their own personalities, fears, talents, imaginations and dreams.
As adults, our responsibility is not simply to protect children from harm. It is also to create the conditions in which they can feel secure enough to laugh, explore, learn and believe in themselves.
Through my work as a children's writer, I have always sought to reflect the courage, humour and imagination of childhood. Stories can help children recognise their own feelings, understand the experiences of others and discover that difficult moments can be overcome.
Whether through storytelling, education, care, public service or a simple act of kindness, every one of us has the ability to make a child feel valued.
And when that child smiles, we are reminded why the work matters.
There can be no greater reward.