While we must understand that sometimes Social Services remove children who are in danger from their parents or carers, More often than not many children are being removed from these homes are still abused.

Here is a story FROM A CHILDS POINT OF VIEW.

 I was a child who lived at home with Mum and Step-dad. Before, Mum was with Dad and life was happy.  Then they  fell out, Mum met a new man, Step-dad. Step-dad isn't a very nice man, he smokes this brown stuff from tin foil and sometimes he gives himself a jag like you get at the doctors, when he does this he falls asleep on the sofa for hours and doesnt do anything. But he needs it cause he's not well, it's his medicine and mum needs it too. There isn't much in our home, we have a sofa and an old television and beds and wardrobes but I dont have much toys. I remember I had lots of toys, and Santa used to bring me loads of presents but Santa doesn't come round any more, nobody does.

I miss my aunts and uncles and my big cousins. I remember we all used to go to the park on sunny days to play and Mum and Dad would sit on the grass with us and we would all have a picnic then play on the swings. Mum used to tell us to always eat all our dinner so we could be big and strong, but when we went to the park mum always let us feed whatever we didn't eat to the swans and ducks as we walked round he pond.

Now, Mum hasn't taken me to the park in ages, and theres no big nice home cooked dinners, all I get every night is beans and toast or beans and waffles sometimes when mum gets paid at the post office we get a pizza, but the rest of the money goes on her and step-dads medicine, they must be very sick cause they take it 3 or 4 times a day, everyday each, I seen the man who gets them their medicine but he doesn't look like a doctor, maybe he see's my mum and step-dad on his way home from his surgery?

There are some nice people who have been coming round to our house, They speak to me softly. Not like mum, all she seems to do these days is slur or shout. She was shouting at the nice people the other day because they asked her why I hadn't had a bath, I stuck up for my mum because I love her and I told them that Mummy had to have her medicine so we didn't have money to pay for hot water.

I don't mind not having a bath, not if it means mummy will get better.

I wish these nice people could understand, Mum isn't well, maybe they could help her get medicine cheaper cause the doctor charges them a lot of money each time they need it. Maybe I could ask them next time they come round.

But Mummy says I've to keep my trap shut when they come over. She says they want to take me away.

I remember one time when the nice people came round they told mum that my attendance at school was poor and this worried them, I wanted to jump up and say that it wasn't mummy's fault, sometimes she feels so ill she just can't get out of bed, and anyway I don't like school, all the other kids laugh at me and call me names and say my mums a junkie, I don't even know what a junkie is, bit I tell them 'NO SHE ISN'T, SHE'S JUST NOT WELL' But Mum told me to be quiet when they were here, so I didn't say anything. They are talking about putting my name on a register, I guess it's like the register you get at school, but this one is different because the nice people think my Mummy and Step-dad might hurt me, and they think I am at risk. Sure, I get shouted at and smacked if I've been a bad boy but they would never hurt me. They want Mummy to go to a meeting to discuss it but Mummy told them to go away and stop messing about with her or else.  Mum really doesn't like these people.

I was out playing one night, I remember it was dark and winter but I was out playing on a bike my Step-dad had got me, he said he picked it up cause I was being a good boy and that I was to go out and play because him and mummy had things to do, so i went out on my nice new bike.

I was cycling round the block and I saw 2 people and 4 policemen there were cars and they were outside our block of flats, I went up the stairs to see that mum and step-dad were ok and the police were all in my house!

The 2 people with all the police saw me and said they were going to take me to see a nice lady and she would make me some soup and give me toys to play with, I was excited but I wanted to know my mummy was ok.

She was crying and begging them not to take me away and said she will get better and stop taking her drugs, I couldn't understand it because the medicine she was taking was making her better, wasn't it? Why would these people want her to stop?

They were all talking and I didn't understand anything, one of the police men was showing me his handcuffs and radio and telling me that if I wanted to, I could go in the police car and they would put the lights on for me, but not the siren because the siren can scare some old people and he can only use it when he's chasing the bad guys, but I was excited!! I'd never been in a police car before!

As all the big people were still talking, mummy was crying so I gave her a hug and told her everything was going to be ok, like she had done for me so many times before she wasn't well, even if i fell and scratched my knee, mummy would wipe it clean being careful not to hurt me, and kiss it better and tell me I was a big Brave boy. She held onto me tightly and said the people at our house were going to take me away for a little holiday because mummy was sick and she couldn't care for me as well as she would like to. I hugged her and said it would all be ok and that its only for a short while and I'd visit her all the time.

I left our house with a small bag of clothes and some toys and got into the police car, the blue lights went on and it was great, we pulled up to a big house like a castle, and there was a woman standing at the front door. Her house was magical, there were carpets and the walls were nice and painted there were mirrors hanging on the walls, I thought that was a bit strange cause all the mirrors in my house were on tables or the kitchen counter, but it looked nice, I could smell food and I remembered for a minute that mummy used to cook dinners that smelt like that. The woman looked at me and ruffled my hair, and told me her name was Elaine, I shook her hand and said I am Tom.

She showed me into a big room with a bed and a wardrobe and drawers in it and some really cool toys. There were cars and rockets and everything! She said she was going down stairs to talk to the people that brought me here and said I could put allmy stuff away and play here and she would come and get me in a wee while.

When she came back up, she looked at me and sighed "You poor little thing" she said, "I hear your Mummy isn't too well at all"

I said "No, but she's got medicine, she'll be better soon"

Elaine said "Well I hope so, Now, I bet your hungry aren't you?"

I was honest and said "Starving!"

Elaine took my hand and said "Ok, lets get you out of those clothes and get you a bath, then you can have whatever you like to eat"

I wasn't use to this kind of treatment, Mummy didnt speak to me softly like that anymore, mummy didnt ruffle my hair, mummy didnt even cuddle me for ages til I was going away, but Elaine did and I loved it.

I had a bath and Elaine had spare PJ's for me to wear, I couldnt help thinking how different Elaines Home was to mine. In my home I didn't have baths, or PJ's. I didnt get to choose what I wanted to eat, This was great, I knew I was going to enjoy my holiday!

For my dinner I had Gammon steaks with boiled potatoes and peas, I was expecting waffles and beans like I got at home, While I was eating Elaine was sat beside me and said "You're only her for the weekend my lad, but I'm sure we will have lots of fun together and you can keep those PJ's, they look a lot better on you that they do on me!!"

I was laughing with her, Elaine was a big lady with grey hair and glasses, I was 6 and skinny... NO way would these pyjamas have fitted her!!

I had a great weekend at Elaines and was sad to leave but I knew it meant mummy was better and I was going home, I couldn't wait to tell Mummy all about the fun I'd had at Elaines.

I got into a womans car and she said to me that Mummy still wasn't well and that I was going to a place where there were other  boys and girls I could play with, I was upset, I was worried about mum and wanted to be with her, but the woman told me it wouldn't be long. We pulled up to a big house but it was different from Elaines, It looked more like an office than a home. There was a man there to see us when we got there and he said "Hi" . He seemed alright and asked a bigger boy Joe, to show me to my room.

Joe was 15 and carried my bag to my new room for me, he was cool. We sat in my room and he lit up a cigarette, "What are you in for?" he asked me

I told him that my mummy wasnt well and that I was staying here for a while til she got better, he asked if she was a Junkie and i told him I didnt know what one of them was, he described the brown stuff and the foil and the needes and then I realised that my Mummy was a junkie. Joe told me the stuff my mum and step-dad were taking was called Heroin and that it wasn't medicine it was bad drugs.

I couldn't believe it, Joe said he was sorry but I had to know the truth, He said he would look out for me in the home and not to worry about a thing.

I was kinda glad, Joe was like my new Big brother, I'd always wanted a big brother so I had someone to play football with.

We went downstairs and the lady who brought me here had left, there were other kids in the home but I was the youngest. There was Joe he was 15 and Kate was 14,  Lisa was 9 and Andy was 11, they said they all missed their mums and dads but that the social workers took them all away from their parents.

Jerry, was the carer. and with him worked Julie and Amanda  I liked Julie and Amanda but Jerry gave me a funny feeling, I ddn't like him much. I settled into the home and got on well with my 'brothers and sisters'.

I went back to school, we would all walk their together, Me, Lisa and Andy went to the primary school and Joe and Kate went to the bigger school, and they would pick us up on our way home.

I soon started to Hate the childrens home, Jerry was always there overnight and would come into my room at night and say "You're here because you were a bad boy. I am here to punish you" I was scared of Jerry, but I believed him, why else woud these people have taken me away if I wasn't a bad boy.

Jerry came into my room one night and sat on the side of my bed, he started to touch my wee man and said "This is what bad boys get, and you're a bad boy"

I hated it, I truly believed him when he said I was a bad boy and I took my punishment. This went on for ages, Then one day I told Joe about it.

Joe gave me a cuddle and said I had to tell my social worker but until then I could sleep in his room.

Jerry didnt like it, I took my covers and slept in joes room on the floor, Jerry said that this was agaist house rules and to get back into my own room. I was frozen with fear, Joe stood up for me and said "What you're doing to the wee guy is wrong, He's staying here, now get out of my room!"

Jerry had no choice but to leave. That Night I shared the bed with Joe, too scared to let him go. I don't think he was too happy about having me in there but I fet safe and Joe let me stay where I was.

The next day a worker came round and asked If I liked my placement.

I started crying and throwing things and screamed that I wanted my Mummy and I wanted Joe.

Joe came in and calmed me down, he told the worker what I had told him. The worker looked at me and said "Now, Tom, Its not nice making up these lies, these lies can get people into trouble" I tried to tell her I wasn't lying and so did Joe but the worker didn't believe me. I had been in this home for 6 months by this time and I was nearly 7, Joe would be 16 soon and allowed to leave care, He said he would take me with him.

After I made the "Allegation" against Jerry, I was sent to a different placement.

IT WAS WORSE

There were no nice kids like Joe there, all the other kids would pick on me and I hated it, Joe used to see me on his way to school and promise that when he was sorted he woud come and get me.

I started to see Mum again, she looked a lot better but I couldnt tell her that I hated the places I had lived in, and that I wanted to go home, I couldn't tell her that til she was better.

She told me that my step-dad moved out and that she was trying to get back on her feet again and she loved me and wanted me home. she gave me a hug and told me she really missed me and would try and get me home soon.

Mum did try, she went to lawyers and everybody but the workers didnt want to let me go home. The workers said it would have to go to court. I lived for that day or the day Joe would come and rescue me. Joe still came to visit, but he said he didnt have a house and was staying with friends, he was 16 now, and that he couldnt get me til he was 18. I couldnt stand another 2 years in these places, I ran away loads of times and asked workers to contact my dad, but they said as I hadn't seen my dad for ages he woudn't want me.

At my next visit with mum, I asked her about my dad, she told me she hadn't seen or heard from him in years, but if it meant that much to me she would look for him for me.

I didn't hear anything for weeks, after my 7th birthday I had another visit from mum, she told me she had found my dad and that he was worried about me. He was asking the Worers if I could come and live with him. They Agreed!! I was so happy, I didn't remember my dad all that well but I couldn't wait to see him.

It was put that I  should have 6 weeks of visits with my dad to see how we got on, we got on great and he said he would have love to have me live with him, After the 6 weeks, I was set free. I went to my dads home and met his new wife and my new baby sister Hannah, I loved it there, I was finally free of Jerry and the bullies at the homes and it was great. I missed Joe and hoped he was happy. I was still at the same school, and would often see him, but he didnt recognise me, he was with a girl. The next time I saw him I ran over to him and clung to him like my life depended on it, He was happy to see me, said he hadn't recognised me with my new hair cut and cause I'd grown so tall, He introduced me to his girlfriend Tracy as his little brother. I felt so special. I bunked off school that day and me, Joe and Tracy went to McDonalds and the park. Joe was glad that I got out of all the bad places and promised to come and visit.

He did, he came over every Friday afternoon and my dad and step-mum would make us dinner and let us chat, My dad thanked him for looking out for me and Joe looked proud as he said "Well, he's my wee bro, what else should I have done" Dad invited Joe to live with us, and Joe accepted. It was great, we were just 1 big happy family.

One night, on Joes 17th birthday, him and dad were celebrating. Dad allowed Joe to have a beer as it was his birthday and we were al sat watching telly enjoying family life, the news came on and I froze in fear when Jerry's face appeared on the screen, I was shaking with fear as I learnt he had been arrested and charged with assauts against young boys. Joe threw his beer can at the telly and screamed "Bastard!! You deserve to rot in hell for what you done to us!!"

I didn't know what had gone on, I understood what Jerry done to me was bad, but he hadn't done it to Joe, Joe was my hero, he was big and strong and nothing could hurt him, he wasn't afraid of anything, but now, here he was crying in my dads arms like a baby. I was lost, I ran to him instictively and threw my arms around him, Joe admitted Jerry had also abused him but soon got bored when Joe was about 12, old enough to say no and mean it, he told my dad Jerry abused me aswell, I remember Joe saying "I love that wee guy like he really is my own brother, I knew he was special the minute I set eyes on the skinny wee runt, I had to protect him, and I failed" Everyone was crying and Joe kept telling me he was sorry, I hugged him and said "I love you, what Jerry did was bad but I have a big brother who I love"

The next day, my dad was down at the police station, and together we told them the story, Jerry had abuse Joe for 5 years, I felt so helpless, Joe had protected me from Jerry but how could I protect him, he was a big strapping lad and didn't stand for anyone hurting me.

Jerry was jailed for 15 years for assaults he carried out on a total of 27 boys dating back to 1980 in care homes, myself and Joe were included in those 27 boys, I also believe some kids actually killed themselves because of Jerry though its not proven and how many didn't come forward.

Life moved on, I am now 25,  my brother Joe 33, I have a girlfriend Mel and a son Joseph Thomas, Joe is still with tracy and they have 2 beautiful girls Ashleigh and Adele. I haven't seen much of my mum, as far as I know she is still using drugs and has a drinking problem, Though I dont hate her, My mum really wasn't well with her addiction to heroin, she didn't have a choice but to let social services take me away, and she did try to get me back, she visited and came off drugs but fighting social services is a losing battle. I have my dad and step-mum and my little sis, who i would lay down my life to protect and of course I have Joe, My brother, My hero My one reason I survived social care, We both experienced things no child should even be aware of, Jerry hanged himself in jail leaving a suicide note saying sorry, I have no sympathy for him, like Joe, I think he should and will be rotting in hell.

Thanks Thomas.