I thought ‘why would they trust me? I know they know what people say I am’
At 13 C had been excluded from school. He wouldn’t write, was aggressive and abusive. He was drinking and totally self reliant with whatever money his mum left for him. His house was uncared for and definitely not a place of safety. His father was an alcoholic and abusive.
Social services, CAMHS and the police all failed to get him to open up and therefore did nothing.
He started to come to the farm – he was bright, valued the trust we put in him, our consistent boundaries and support. He was respectful and didn’t swear. He never told us his full story but if our cows could talk…. His confidence grew and although his home life deteriorated at times– he became homeless sometimes walking through the night to keep warm – he stuck with us, passed his first qualification here and then went on to an agricultural college where he passed several courses.
He is 18 now and doing brilliantly as an apprentice on one of the local farms, living at home again and has a better relationship with his mother.
