Can you imagine being 18, facing adulthood with no one to turn to?
Mia had been in care since her early teens, she is a wheelchair user and has physical and mental health difficulties. She suffered abuse at home and spent many months in a mental health ward. It had taken along time to recover but she was greatly helped by loving foster carers and, for a while, felt happy and secure.
When Mia turned 18 everything fell apart. She was told she could no longer live with her foster carers because funding to live there would stop.
Mia was then moved several times and finally ended up in shared accommodation. There were steps to the front door so she struggled to get in and out in her wheelchair. The staff here were unable to meet her needs. Sometimes the ground floor toilet would be locked and she found herself without clean clothes. She was not eating properly and no one was checking in, despite her history of eating disorders. She contacted her social worker, but her concerns were not acted on. She was alone.
“I felt abandoned and hopeless”
Mia called our helpline and we stepped in urgently to ensure she was safe and that her voice was heard. An advocate reassured Mia and we quickly raised our concerns about Mia’s safety to Children’s Services. We worked side by side with Mia to articulate how the failure to support her left her vulnerable and at risk.
Our support meant Mia was moved to new, suitable and safe accommodation. At her new home, the staff were much more supportive, and she got a new social worker who listened and did her best to help. Mia finally had people she could turn to.
“All I can say is thank you. After I called you, things started to get better and now I actually have hope about the future”.
10,000 young people will leave care this year. Your support means we can be there for them when they have no one else to turn to. Click the button below to create better chances for young care leavers this Christmas.