A moment that changed me: a stranger contacted me – to say he was my brother

Growing up in the care system, I believed I was an only child. Then a man messaged me on Facebook, and left me with a head full of questions.

I was a toddler when I entered the care system. By the time I left, at 18, I had been shunted between four foster homes and a residential care home, all across south-east London.

I met my biological mum for the first time since entering care when I was about 10. I never met my dad. To the knowledge of my various social workers and foster parents, I had no siblings.