Thrown Away Child

Louise Allen is a survivor of child abuse who transformed her difficult past into a powerful advocacy for children in care. Having experienced a challenging childhood as a foster child in the 1970s, she endured abuse from her adoptive parents. At fifteen, she escaped, arriving in a new city with no support system.

Despite these hardships, Louise’s talent for painting and drawing, combined with her resilience, enabled her to build a fulfilling adult life. She is a firm believer in the potential for healing and hope for all children who have suffered abuse and trauma.

Now happily married with children of her own, Louise also fosters children. She is dedicated to combating the injustices faced by children in care. Her appearances on prominent BBC programs like Front Row, Saturday Live, That’s Life, Loose Women, and This Morning have amplified her voice.

Her bestselling memoir, Thrown Away Child, marked the beginning of her extensive work as a campaigner for the rights of children in care. This was followed by the Sunday Times bestselling Thrown Away Children series, which shares the poignant stories of the children she has fostered. In 2021, she published How to Adopt a Child, a guide to adoption. A new series, Slave Girls, is set to be released in 2025, shedding light on the County Lines tragedy.

Louise is the founder of the charity Spark Sisterhood, which provides employment pathways, mentoring, community support, and an online learning platform for girls in and transitioning out of care.

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