My family was invited to 10 Downing Street. I sat with that sentence for days afterwards, turning it over, because some moments are so big you need a bit of time before you can actually say them out loud.
If you know me from CBeebies, you’ll know I’m usually the one bouncing about, singing songs and getting very excited about very small things. But this one was different. This one went right down to the roots.
We were there alongside some brilliant people and organisations doing supportive work for families across the UK, including Elliott Rae, the Fatherhood Institute, Mumsnet, Ashley Louise James and The Pelo Family. Being in a room full of people who spend their days backing parents and children was special in itself. Being there with my own family made it something else entirely.
From Guyana to Britain: built brick by brick
My parents came to this country from Guyana with nothing but hope and an unshakeable work ethic. They never asked for recognition. They never went looking for the spotlight. They simply put their heads down, built a life brick by brick, and raised their children to believe that Britain was a place where anything was possible if you were willing to earn it.
So when I stood inside Number 10 with my family around me, it wasn’t the famous door or the grand staircase I was thinking about. It was them. Every early shift, every quiet sacrifice, every moment they chose our future over their own comfort. That visit was theirs as much as it was ours.
Being honest about history, even in our moments of joy
Here’s the truth. For much of this country’s history, the only way someone who looks like me would have walked through the doors of 10 Downing Street was as a member of staff.
That isn’t a complaint. It isn’t bitterness. It’s simply history. And I think it’s important that we’re honest enough to name it, even in our happiest moments. Especially in our happiest moments, because that’s when the distance travelled is clearest.
What progress really looks like
We often talk about progress in headlines and statistics. But for me, progress looked like a family. Standing together, in a place their grandparents could never have imagined entering.
This is what progress looks like. Not a headline. Not a statistic. A family.
I’m proud beyond words. And as a dad, I wanted my children to feel that pride too, not as a one-off day out, but as part of their story. They come from people who kept going when it would have been far easier to stop.
Why representation matters for children of immigrants
I left Downing Street with something else as well: a real sense of responsibility. Britain is at a pivotal moment. The progress that’s been made, slowly and often painfully over generations, is not a given. It isn’t permanent. It has to be actively protected, championed and passed on.
Representation matters. Opportunity matters. And the stories we tell ourselves about what this country is, and who it’s for, matter enormously. Children notice who gets invited in. They notice who’s on the telly, who’s in charge, and who gets to stand in the important rooms. Every time they see someone who looks like them in one of those places, the ceiling gets a little bit higher.
That’s a big part of why I do what I do, whether that’s presenting for young children or running community sessions for dads through Dadvengers. The faces our kids see shape the futures they believe are possible.
I also got a few minutes with Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education. It wasn’t a long chat, but we talked about how important it is to support dads in parenting, and she thanked me for the work I’m doing. Hearing that, in that garden, with my own kids nearby, meant a great deal.
This one is for you
To every child of immigrants who has ever been told to be grateful just to be here. To every parent who sacrificed in silence so their children could walk into rooms they never could. This one is for you.
We made it into the room.
Now let’s make sure we hold the door open.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Nigel Clarke’s family at 10 Downing Street?
Nigel and his family were invited alongside others doing supportive work for families in the UK, including Elliott Rae, the Fatherhood Institute, Mumsnet, Ashley Louise James and The Pelo Family.
Where is Nigel Clarke’s family from?
Nigel’s parents came to Britain from Guyana. Their journey, and the values they passed on, sit at the heart of his work and his family life.
Who is Nigel Clarke?
Nigel Clarke is a CBeebies presenter, parenting content creator and the founder of Dadvengers, a Community Interest Company (CIC) that supports fathers across the UK through peer-led sessions, events, social content and a podcast.
