Comments for Public opposition to the opening of a children's home - Have your say at http://www.careleavers.org , comment 1 to 13 out of 13 comments http://www.careleavers.org Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:53:02 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-122 It is true that people do need educating about the care system and the children who are placed in it, but most importantly these children have the same rights as a child living with their natural family - Funny street signs Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:31:01 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-109 We are not claiming that all young children are angels, but its' attitude like this that judge and ostracize them that push them to feel excluded and rebel which is human nature to rebel when you are left to feel excluded. The point of children home is to provide a place where they feel cared for. Why have it in the middle of nowhere for them to feel even ostracized even more. They need to be in the community to make friends outside of the home and outside of school. A properly run home and that should also be aimed at improving the attitudes of these children should not be bringing down the neighborhood. Adults are too quick to judge young children. I have 2 younger sisters and a younger brother and none of them or their friends display this wild like behave that the press keep putting out there. I do voluntary work with youths and I still don't see this behavior that press have led the general public to believe. People need to stop being so gullible and give these children a chance to be children. In any society there will be pockets of people (the minority) that will behave with disregard for the law or just lacking the basic social skills how to live and integrate with others and show respect for their neighbors and the neighborhood, however this doesn't give us the right to paint them all with 1 brush. People need to check the facts, youth crime rates was higher back in the day, there just wasn't any press around to cover it and put it in your face! Adults need to address the way they deal with children and then and maybe only then will we see a change. Children must learn to be children and treated as such. And people need to stop blaming the government for those minority of children who gets in problem with the law. Parents take your responsibility and raise your children, politicians didn't make them misbehave, be anorexic or over weight! - Claudine Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:51:26 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-107 I don’t know why so many of you seem to think that all young people are miss understood angels and anybody who dares to say anything else is an evil fascist, perhaps because you earn such fat salaries in the youth welfare industries. I live in a run down neighbourhood in Coventry where ninety five percent of the housing is private landlord rented and so we don’t have any interest in house values as al least one of has sneered. There are 680 houses in our neighbourhood and 14 of them are bail hostels. We wouldn’t have known about these bail hostels if we hadn’t been tipped off by somebody in social services because they didn’t cause any problems. In 2004 our first “Young Person Direct Access” shelter opened and immediately the criminal and anti social behaviour went through the roof and it was a direct result of the YPDA as we had witness statements and everything even down to identifying individual culprits but when we complained we got the same response that you now offer, the holier than thou, we are better than you, we are above listening to your criticisms etc. Well with the aid of the Councillors, the police and overall majority of the residents (and not just a small nucleus worried about our house prices because the vast majority of us rent our bedsits) we did get the leash put on them and if they don’t improve we are confident we will get it closed and we will exploit the council’s need to make spending cuts if needs be. Now we are having a new Northern Care home opening just a few houses away from the other one. If it is well managed and doesn’t have a negative effect on our already threatened community they will be very welcome but if they do start the criminal and ASB and Northern Care take the ivory tower stance then there will be conflict. - Keith Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:45:52 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-19 I live near this proposed home in Portishead and contrary to the press's assertion that opposition was widespread, the actual hardcore of protestors you could count on one hand, all lived within a hundred yards of the home and all had ulterior motives, pre-prescribed agendas to oppose the home. The vast majority of the towns 25,000 population either welcomed the home, were indifferent to it or didn't even realsie it was opening. I, and many others will make any newcomers to our community more than welcome. - Gould Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:54:48 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-18 With a community opposed to providing a safe clean home to vulnerable youngsters,one begins to wonder what life for a child is like in that vicinity.With people like this as role models,maybe a different location should be sought after all.There would be no qualms if this was to be occupied by the elderly.What is wrong in this world(when we wont&dont want to better a childs life).Ignorance is bliss,some say. - kim Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:48:42 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-17 I don't understand why such strong opposition would [url=http://www.google.com]exist[/url]. What motives do they have? http://www.google.com - PF Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:41:49 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-13 Thanks for this Morrison. It is good to see positive excerpts from the press and from professionals. - Zachari Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:43:24 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-12 This story was carried in the Lancashire Evening Post yesterday Former pub may become children's home A former pub could be converted into a children's home. The former Railway Hotel in Watkin Lane could be turned into a care home for six children with emotional difficulties and learning disabilities. Coun Kath Beattie, who represents Lostock Hall ward, said: "If you can bring buildings back to life then that must be a good thing. Children do need a home of their own." It will be interesting to see how this one develops... - Morrison Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:31:07 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-11 I agree with everything said so far ...... I also wonder whether these councillors and members of the public realise the impact their opinions may have on looked after children who may hear or read the opposing views and feel even more rejected from the 'outside' world. How can these children be expected to join and trust the adult world when they leave care if they are not counted in the community around them. It is true that people do need educating about the care system and the children who are placed in it, but most importantly these children have the same rights as a child living with their natural family, so what give these people the right to push that aside ? - Sue Myhan Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:34:57 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-10 Some valid comments have already been made. I totally agree with Victoria children are part of the community. I go further and state every child desires a home and for some children that may be living in a children s home .away from family. What is wrong if the children home is situated in a residential area. I ask the question why would some local residents of the area have concerns? Is it fear? The statement made, extensive opposition to the scheme and the home is in the wrong place,reading those words hit an emotional response with in my heart? Those comments got me thinking questioning reflecting feeling sad that in some circumstances children in care face additional challenges. One important aspect from my own care back ground that has had an ever lasting influence on my life now as an adult . Is that the members of the local community can have a huge significant in nurturing being good role models. Accepting children in care just like other children within the community. I found the comments the building was a previously a nursing home interesting, for me that the building would be functional so if it was suitable place for the care of the aged surely why is it not acceptable for a children s home? It sounds in the article the local authority is addressing a need by providing the vulnerable children a home. Some children in care have no family life. And rightly deserve a safe place to live in with caring supportive caregivers. Jim is spot on many children placed in care through no fault of their own decisions are made by the social work professionals. I was in care for my whole child hood it not pleasant or nice when adults make the assumption you must have been problematic or had behaviour difficulties to be placed in a residential children s home.far from the truth or fair. This shows lack of understanding or knowledge the reasons why children are placed in care. - Elizabeth Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:22:49 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-9 I've come across this sort of prejudice against children's homes in various parts of the country. I don't think Bristol is that special. I think there is a wider task needed here, which is to educate the general public about the child care system. Most people are surprised when I point out that only a tiny minority of looked after children are in care due to their own behaviour and the vast majority are there due to suffering abuse within the own families. These are government figures, so they tend to make people think about what they thought they knew. Even social work students are surprised. My personal impression, based on nothing more scientific than my own experience, is that things may have got worse over the years. When I was in care, the local children's home was an object of curiosity (children used to peak through the fence at us) rather than concern and neighbours never had any issue with the place. Now, I fear, society - aided and abetted by the mass media - is much more likely to see children's homes as a threat. Even if the councillor quoted is genuinely concerned for the welfare of the children in the home, I suspect many of his colleagues will simply be responding to the concerns of those who are 'worried' about its presence. The phrase 'house prices' comes to mind, as well. Can't think why. Regards, Jim - Jim Goddard Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:10:25 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-4 To be honest i think somone should write a letter to the Bristol press about this. What I want to know is who it is that is making a fuss locally? Perhaps we should go down and give them some education about issues they obviously know nothing about. - Morrison Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:09:36 +0100 http://www.careleavers.org/blog/public-opposition-to-the-opening-of-a-childrens-home-have-your-say.html#comment-3 I agree with Victoria. Children and young people are often ostricized from their own communities (sometimes due to the reasons they or their family had to leave them) and are often place quite a distance from their peers and/or (external) family members. If we expect children and young people in care to have the same rights, educational, social and moral growth as their peers then surely the role community has in this is essential. There are already some really interesting community projects going on with young people in care. http://www.groundwork-herts.org.uk/upload/documents/webpage/document122.pdf - Zachari Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:28:09 +0100