Blog

The Bag You Carry: Advocating for Every Child’s Journey

07th October 2025

Every child steps into the world each morning carrying a bag, real or imagined, visible or invisible. The contents of this bag—hopes, worries, dreams, burdens—shape how they walk, learn, and thrive. At TLG, our 'The Bag You Carry' campaign is born from a simple truth: to support children, we must first understand the weight they carry. 

As a mother, a former Head Teacher, and someone who has walked alongside children from all walks of life, I know personally how the invisible burdens can shape a child's sense of self. I have seen my own children, and those entrusted to my care in the classroom, wrestle with challenges that adults can sometimes overlook: the sting of a misunderstood remark, the pressure to fit in, the quiet anxiety of being seen as different. 

"The Bag You Carry" is not just another resource—it's a call to action. It asks adults, educators, and decision-makers to pause and reflect: Do we truly see the lived experience of our children? Do we acknowledge the microaggressions that Black children face, the subtle signals and words that accumulate, day after day, in their bags? Too often, these experiences go unspoken, yet their impact is profound. 

Our hope with this campaign and new resource is to shine a light on these hidden weights. We want to offer practical tools, stories, and language that empower adults to listen more deeply, respond more thoughtfully, and advocate more fiercely. We want to equip parents, teachers, and communities without lived experience of racial injustice to recognise the signs of strain and support children in unpacking what they carry, especially those most at risk of being misunderstood or marginalised. 

In my years as a head teacher, I witnessed how microaggressions, those seemingly small acts or comments, could erode a child’s confidence and sense of belonging. I watched Black children carry questions about their worth and identity, sometimes without the words to name what was happening to them. As a mother, it broke my heart when my own child returned home, quietly heavier, after a day where they felt unseen or misjudged.  

This is why The Bag You Carry matters. At TLG, we’re advocating not just for more resources, but for a shift in perspective, a movement towards radical empathy, informed advocacy, and a willingness to stand alongside children who carry an extra weight. While The Bag You Carry focuses on how microaggressions affect Black children, its lessons in curiosity and empathy offer insight into all forms of injustice.  

As we mark Black History Month 2025, under the theme “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” we’re reminded of the power of story. Poet Peju Abuchi has been commissioned to write a poem for TLG titled ‘A Renewed Society is EXTRA-Ordinary’. Her words capture the beauty, strength, and resilience of children who navigate unseen challenges every day. We encourage you to watch her video below - let it move you, challenge you, and inspire reflection. 

 

We invite you to engage with The Bag You Carry as more than a resource: let it be a springboard for conversation, a lens for understanding, and a tool for change. Together, we can help lighten the load, one child at a time. 

 

 

Join Us on the Journey  

For more information, to access the resources, or to invite a TLG spokesperson to contribute to your media:  

Media Contact: 

Abigail Anjorin 
Head of Child Advocacy and Engagement  
Abigail.Anjorin@tlg.org.uk