Cutaway Comm - After graduating from the rehab in Bradford, Louise then moved to a supported housing rehab in Sheffield. This allowed her to learn more independent skills. Louise Louise sync - You cooked your own meals. It was a bit easier and I stayed there for a year and a half I decided I wanted to move back home, because I really missed my friends and because at that point I had been involved with the church for so long. Cutaway Comm Louise got involved with voluntary groups within the church this gave her an opportunity to experience helping others. This eventually led her to apply for a job as a carer for adults with learning disabilities. Louise Louise sync I filled in the application, did the interview and got the job and I was like wow I got my first ever job that I actually want to do. I have been there now for 2 months and I absolutely love it. Cutaway Stephen Stephen sync Louise has shown a huge amount of resilience and has come through some very difficult times. She is a really good example of what you can achieve in the most darkest days. Holly Holly sync The change in Louise has been outstanding, I think back them years ago, when shed been admitted to hospital, and then I think about where she is now, shes working, she is supporting herself. Through sheer grit and determination shes managed to succeed and be where she is today. Louise Louise sync - I think you just live the life you were dealt and you kind of make the most of that, and I think ok it was rubbish, do you know what its going to be better in the future

Holly sequence Comm To help with Louises living arrangements, Stephen assigned Holly to be Louises mentor. Holly is the Medway challengers co-ordinator and specialises in working with children in care. Holly Holly sync With mentoring it is all kind of tailored for the individual so everything you do, every child and person you work with would be different every time depending on what their needs are, so Louise really needed, first of all practical support. Louise Louise sync We went down to the council together, we got an interview for a hostel, she came and supported me through that. She helped me furnish it and decorate it, we went shopping together, I would see her about once a week, and she would go through budgeting, meal planning, cooking Cutaway Comm As well as practical help, Holly also offered Louise with emotional support. This meant that whenever Louise had a question or wanted advice, Holly was there. However the pressure of living independently at such a young age soon became apparent. Louise Louise sync As I was living on my own, and didnt know how to do that as such I started going drinking every weekend, I started binging and purging at this point, I was still self harming, and I was also diagnosed with severe depression and put on loads more tablets. Cutaway Comm Louises behaviour started to become more erratic. Someone from the church noticed that Louise needed help and took her to a conference about a rehab in Bradford. Louise Louise sync I went to rehab for 6 months in Bradford and that was the hardest thing of my life, to be told what to eat, what to wear.

or sing, or do anything, but now I walk in and I chat to everyone, which is amazing. Cutaway Comm Through the Church, Louise formed many close relationships. One of the friends she made offered for Louise to move in with her, but this did not solve her problems. Louise Louise sync When I went to live with the lady from church, the eating disorder got worse. My behaviour got worse and our relationship got worse because I was trying hiding things that I was doing and she found out and it was all very dishonest, I took quite a few overdoses in that placement. I was in hospital near enough a month in a psychiatric hospital. It was very safe and it was the safest environment that I actually had felt in quite a while. I was due to leaving hospital, and I got really worried because I had nowhere to live as I was still ill, I was still very thin, I still had massive cuts everywhere all over my body that hadnt healed and I was quite unstable. Cutaway Comm When Louise was near the end of her stay in hospital, she contacted Stephen as she felt she didnt have anyone else to contact. He went to visit Louise in hospital and invited her to a residential weekend away. Louise Louise sync We did jet skiing and 4by4 driving we did everything, it was brilliant as it was out of reality. While we were there Stephen asked me if I wanted a mentor. At first I was like no, cause I dont need anyone elses help Im fine by myself, but then I thought about it and thought I probably did need help with some things, especially about where I was going to be living.

of my brothers has ADHD and he destroyed my one year old brother at the times asthma pump, so my mum kind of just had enough of it and called for help. She kind of just called to get him removed really but they decided to remove us all there and then. We all got assigned foster carers and then we all just left in our different directions. Some went together some didnt, it depends what they thought was best. When I was about 12 social services asked me if I wanted to be involved in going to a group on a Thursday evening for young people that were in care Cutaway Comm Louise started to attend the Thursday evening group, run by the Young Lives Foundation. Despite receiving support, she still faced personal struggles. Louise Louise sync During secondary school and all through being in care I was told that I was the fat ugly dumb one, and my mother even told me that. I became very guarded on what I ate, I wouldnt eat in front of people I decided at one point not to eat anything at all Cutaway Comm By the age of 14 Louise had an eating disorder and was already in her third care home, but she soon found solace in a newfound faith. Louise Louise sync I started to come to church when I was 14, I was still at school, and the carer that I was living with at the time he died, so I saw a connections PA, who at the time I didnt know came to church, who started talking about a conference that St Lukes run. I like coming back because whenever I come back its always now for happy occasions like if someone I know is getting baptized or someone I know is getting married here. When I first came it was a Sunday morning, and I walked in it was full of people, and I was really shy and I would sit and wouldnt look at people

Visual Audio Title My Hero Music Cutaway Comm In modern day Britain lots of children are put into care. Research has shown that the main contributors of going into care were abuse, neglect and family dysfunction. There are a variety of charities that are now available to support these children. Stephen cutaway shot Comm One such is the young lives foundation. Stephen Gray is the co-founder of the Young Lives Foundation. He joined the charity in 2001 as an advocate and has recently stepped up to the role of CEO. Stephen Stephen sync The young lives foundation is an independent childrens charity working with young people and children across the county of Kent. Were unique because we use local people because to support these children and were unique because of the difference services we provide Cutaway Comm - The young lives foundation has helped support children in and out of care and also provides role models for young people. Stephen Stephen sync The young lives foundation provides role models for children and young people and provides opportunities to lead and show young people other ways of living and to help them make important decisions on their journeys into independence Louise Cutaway Comm One of the people the young lives foundation has helped is 22-year-old Louise Prendergast. She was referred to the young lives foundation when she was 12, by the social services. Louise talking Louise sync - My mum was quite ill after each one of us and she had postnatal depression and it never kind of got better. So there was a lot of abuse and a lot of neglect, because my mum just didnt know how to be a parent, and one day she kind of reached the end of her tether cause one