Game of Thrones had several characters who started off as little kids and later blossomed into the bold personas we know and love so much. The child actors who were part of the show also grew up with it as the seasons progressed, and many of them have successful careers now. Maisie Williams, who played Arya Stark on the show, is definitely one of them. However, her life prior to the show was quite difficult.

Maisie has become an ambassador for the MAZI project, a Bedminster community interest company (CIC) distributing meals to disadvantaged young people across the city. She recalled the time when her family had to flee domestic violence and she had to rely on the support of Barnardos charity for food. She told Bristol World:

“Food holds so much power. So, when you don’t have it, don’t have enough of it, or don’t experience the enrichment that food brings, you are faced with not only hunger but also detachment, fear, and isolation. I’ve been there. I’ve felt this. I understand the impact it has on your self-worth. I’ve never talked publicly about this before, but I had a lot of support from Barnardos when I was growing up. They helped me to learn and connect with thoughts and emotions that I’d suppressed for so long. It had an incredible transformational impact on me.”

“My fear dissipated; my sense of self-started rising. I took a dance class shortly after, which led to auditions, my role in Game of Thrones, and everything else that’s come since. The impact that a little nurture, time, and care can have on young people is genuinely life-changing. That’s what The MAZI Project is providing for the young people in Bristol that they help and that’s why I wanted to get involved.”

If you are, or know, a young person based in Bristol who is facing food insecurity and might benefit from a MAZI Project meal kit, email hello@themaziproject.com.

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