Lucy Stevens - 6th January 2023
My name’s J. I’m 15. I can’t live with my mum any more. I don’t really want to talk about it but let’s just say I can’t relax at home. My dad and step-mum have a new baby and no room for me. I wouldn’t want to live there anyway. You don’t want to be somewhere you’re not wanted do you? So I’m just kipping on mates’ sofas until their parents have enough of me and it’s time to move on. I can do what I want, when I want. No-one notices.
I’m supposed to be having my mocks at the moment. I like school actually. I like learning new stuff, like how things work. Science stuff. But outside of school nothing is working and I’m so tired all the time, I can’t concentrate. Everyone else knows what they’re doing. It makes me feel stupid so it’s easier to just sack it off and do my own thing.
The social workers are involved, trying to take control. They want me to go to a foster family. I don’t mind the idea actually, being somewhere safe and warm, home-cooked food. But what if I don’t like them? What if they don’t like me. They probably won’t, my own mum and dad don’t seem that fussed. But the street is not a good place for me, I know that much. So, I’ve said I’ll go in to care.
The social worker told me that there are not many foster carers and that it may take a long time to find a family. Well duh, who wants a 15 year old boy? Who wants me?
I guess I’ll be moving around a bit, the social worker mentioned an emergency bed, emergency foster care. That’s what I am now. An emergency. I get a weird pain in my guts when I think too much about it. Then I get angry and do stupid stuff. No-one knows that I just want to sleep, not to worry or feel stressed out. Nobody’s asked me.
I made it in to school the other day and we were talking about next year, the GCSEs. The teacher asked us about New Year’s resolutions and said that maybe revision could be included. He was kind of joking. I said my New Year’s resolution would be to be in a place where I felt it was worth making a New Year’s resolution at all.
Could you foster a child like J? His story is so sadly familiar, commonplace even. We desperately need foster carers for teenagers who are being edged out of their own lives. Could you give them an opportunity to rest, feel safe and be encouraged in their education. Could that factor in your New Year’s resolution?
Call us on 01206 299775, email us at team@easternfosteringservices.com or contact us via our website or facebook.
Eastern Fostering Services - The small agency with a strong family feel
