Tilley Rees, the Young Activist striving for change in the Youth Work Sector

23-year-old Tilley Rees, known otherwise as Chantelle Thomas, is a passionate advocate for change within the youth work sector, particularly for care-experienced young people. Drawing from her own tumultuous experiences, Tilley is determined to shine a light on ‘systemic failures’ within social services that continue to impact the lives of vulnerable children. Her story, rooted in trauma yet powerful in its call for reform, has the potential to inspire many and catalyse much-needed dialogue surrounding children’s rights and advocacy.

Tilley’s Story

Tilley’s journey into the care system began at a young age, when, at just six years old, she was returned to the care of her father, a known sexual predator. This decision, made by Carmarthenshire Social Services and Dyfed-Powys Police, led to years of abuse, which culminated in her father’s eventual conviction and a lengthy prison sentence.

Despite this legal acknowledgment of the grave errors made by social services, Tilley observed a worrying lack of accountability for those responsible. This early experience of the system’s failings ignited a fire within her—a fervent desire for reform aimed at protecting other children from similar fates.

The complexities of Tilley’s story extend well beyond her childhood trauma. As a student of youth work and social education, she found herself navigating numerous systemic barriers throughout her academic journey. Despite facing challenges such as police harassment during a domestic violence situation and the instability of living in 47 different placements, Tilley has remained resolute in her commitment to advocating for young people. Even after a recent mental health decline, triggered by prescribed medication, which led to her university suspension, she has continued her studies independently, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to her field.

Tilley has not only survived her challenges but has transformed her experiences into fuel for activism, using social media to encourage people to take on the challenge of making a change within the system. Her page on Facebook, Be Proud to Be Loud is where she shares her story in hopes that others will follow her hopes of a better care system for young people. Her advocacy work has also seen her engage with various campaigns, including the Democratic Health Task and Finish Group.

Tilley Rees smiling in the sunshine outside County Hall in Carmarthen

She has used her voice to influence policy, speaking in the Senedd and connecting with key stakeholders, including introducing the Children’s Commissioner Sally Holland to the urgent issue of private residential care homes that profit off vulnerable children.

Tilley’s tireless efforts are set to culminate in 2027, a year she believes will mark significant progress ahead for care-experienced young people through new policy measures, breaking generational trauma cycles for so many individuals who have experienced the system as Tilley has.

Her personal journey has deepened Tilley’s understanding of the systemic inequalities facing care-experienced individuals. She aims to ensure that no child has to endure what she did; her advocacy is rooted in empathy and a profound understanding of the barriers many young people face today.

Our Time with Tilley

Speaking to Carmarthenshire News Online, Tilley said:

“I had a difficult up-bringing and childhood. The experiences that I had were pretty horrific, but I think we forget sometimes that abuse is a very wide thing, and I believe that even though I’ve experienced physical abuse and sexual abuse, it’s the psychological and emotional abuse and the damage that has caused a longer term impact.

“I’ve got complex PTSD from childhood and I feel that since I went into the system, that wasn’t identified until I left the system and got that diagnosis for myself. There were no support systems in place to identify the needs and support I needed because of the childhood abuse.

“Going through the care system, the barriers I was facing and the fact there was no support, as well as all the different homes I was moved around in, and the attachment theory wasn’t really understood or developed into supporting me and you can see that as I’ve gone through the system and into education as the barriers have stayed, and it impacts me.

“I reflect on it more now as a young person of an older age but as a child you don’t really understand what’s going on. I think it’s really important that these professionals and the local authority, it’s their duty to protect children and make sure they’re getting the support they need.”

We asked Tilley if there was anything that she attributed her resilience to. Tilley said:

“Yeah my child. My son is my everything and I’ve always been someone who’s been an activist from a young age, I’ve always volunteered but the real fire didn’t come until I noticed the experiences I had as a child [were] at the same age as my child. You get to see the support you should have had and it makes you realise ‘hang on a minute’ it doesn’t matter if you’ve got one child or ten children, as soon as you have that emotional connection you start to realise something needs to change in the world.

“I feel as a mother I have a duty of care to protect and advocate for all children on a national level because more often than not we can get wrapped up in our own personal experiences and get tied down with going ‘this happened to me and had a negative impact’ but actually not finding a way to solve that issue. Parents have so much experience, we can use our experience and our knowledge to better the services and how the professionals respond.”

‘You’re Not Alone’

Asking Tilley what her words of encouragement to people going through similar struggles or who may be feeling lost and alone, Tilley said:

“The words of encouragement I have are that you’re not alone, know that everyone knows there are gaps, this is not something that is not seen. Stand up, fight for your rights and make sure that you are heard.

“If you have got an experience that you think can turn something into a better way with working with an individual, a young person, an adult, a mother, a student, a doctor or a politician then share that experience, share that expertise, share that knowledge. We go on about collaboration in Government, collaboration is when people come together and people are power.”

Tilley is now seeking to amplify her story—not merely as a testament to her resilience but as a courageous call to action for society. She believes that the narratives of those who have experienced adversity are crucial in driving meaningful change. Tilley asserts, “It’s the ones that are experiencing life through adversity who can bring knowledge, insight, and understanding to the need for systemic change.”

  • According to Senedd statistics, As of 2023, there were 7,208 children in care in Wales. This was a 2% increase from the previous year.

In her quest to uncover the truth and address the ‘serious failings’ of the systems intended to protect children, Tilley has launched a petition aimed at kickstarting conversations and catalysing action about the rights and futures of care-experienced young people. The petition can be accessed here.

Tilley Rees stands as a beacon of hope and resilience, eager to turn her experiences into an instrument of change. She embodies the unwavering spirit of countless care-experienced young people, urging society to look beyond the surface and confront the unsettling truths that have been swept under the rug for too long.

As she prepares to share her story, Tilley invites all to join her in advocating for a future where every child is heard, protected, and empowered.


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