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Paris Bartholomew is a renowned speaker, trainer, and advocate whose powerful lived experience and professional expertise have made her a highly respected voice in care experience, mental health, education, resilience, and inclusion.
Entering the care system at the age of six following severe familial abuse, Paris experienced nine foster and residential placements before leaving care at 18. Despite these early challenges, she pursued higher education and achieved a Master’s degree in Philosophy and Psychology from Middlesex University, laying the foundations for a career dedicated to empowering others through education, advocacy, and personal development.
With a professional background as a secondary school teacher and lecturer in Health, Social Care, and Psychology, Paris has spent more than 25 years working across educational settings and charitable organisations, supporting teachers, mentors, professionals, young people, and vulnerable communities. Her expertise spans mental health, trauma informed practice, psychology, resilience, identity, and workplace inclusion.
Today, Paris works as a motivational speaker and trainer, collaborating with organisations including Action for Children, Barnardo’s, NSPCC, The Fostering Network, and Business Disability Forum. She also delivers specialist training for headteachers and professionals on trauma informed care and support.
Paris is widely recognised for her engaging, authentic, and inspiring speaking style, particularly her ability to connect with challenging and diverse audiences, including prisoners, children’s home residents, educators, and frontline professionals. Her talks combine compelling storytelling with practical insight, encouraging audiences to overcome adversity, build resilience, and create meaningful change.
Her contributions have earned national recognition, including nominations for the Positive Role Model Award for Race, Religion and Faith at the National Diversity Awards, finalist recognition for CPD Trainer of the Year, and being named a finalist for Speaker of the Year at the Women’s Business Awards.
A passionate advocate for equality, diversity, inclusion, and disability awareness, Paris also speaks openly about living with an autoimmune disease and COPD, championing greater understanding of invisible disabilities and reasonable workplace adjustments. Alongside her speaking career, she volunteers with organisations including the Samaritans and the Royal Society for Blind Children.
As an author, mentor, and advocate, Paris continues to inspire audiences with her message of hope, resilience, and recovery, encouraging others to survive, grow, and inspire through life’s challenges.
This talk raises awareness of mental health issues, equipping employees with the knowledge to support their own mental wellbeing and that of others. Participants will learn how to reduce stigma, promote open conversations about mental health, and create a supportive and compassionate workplace culture.
This talk explores the concept of intersectionality and how overlapping identities (e.g., race, gender, sexuality) influence experiences of inequality. Participants will learn how to recognise and address these complex dynamics to foster a genuinely inclusive environment.
This talk provides an overview of what organisations and individuals can do to celebrate diversity, understand equity and be more aware of how unconscious bias plays out in our everyday interactions.
This talk teaches participants the importance of self-care, effective stress management, and setting healthy boundaries. It is designed to help individuals foster resilience and maintain wellbeing, particularly in high-stress roles, by developing tools for managing mental and emotional health.
This talk provides an overview of childhood trauma and abuse, attachment and adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Trauma affects the brain, body and behaviour, but with a systemic approach to healing, transformation is possible. This talk will give participants the opportunity for loads of Q & A within a safe and open space.
This talk is facilitated by a former Samaritans volunteer and Mental Health First Aider, who will provide a interesting look at current statistics, ways to facilitate meaningful conversations and the importance of early intervention and support. Risk factors, causes and a ‘deep dive’ into the current issues affecting our communities.
Paris, I’ve heard some really great feedback on your session and know those who attended found it powerful and engaging. One person said it changed the way they will approach careers guidance with students given your experiences.
Paris delivered a fantastic keynote at our annual Celebration of Achievements Awards for Richmond and Kingston Councils. She inspired and encouraged an audience of 250 care-experienced young people and professionals. We would have her back in a heartbeat.
