COLIN.wrote............ > > I am grateful for the fact you have wiritten this. I just want to point > out the there aremany boys abused in this way too.
My reply Thank you Colin............ you are right I have missed making the poiint that our work is not just with girls but boys as well.. GO TO THE SITE AND SEE THE POSTERS... Our youngest male client is 9 I believe.... our work with young men is enormous and misunderstood. Homophobia, ignorance and "shame" prevent a lot of people either supporting our work or seeking our help.. Also, with young men they are often more independant and live lives that allow them a degree of freedom from control.. Accepting that order and control are important to a better life, is hard for them as within those frameworks ( whether care homes, home life or in school) they have been abused. BEing FREE, so to speak, allows them some autonomy. the risks they run, though through selling sex are horrendous and far reaching.. My own attitude to homeless young people, those who use drugs, are obviously selling sex and those who are openly dealing drugs has changed dramatically since working for Barnardo's as behind each seemingly overt and anti-social behaviour is someone who needs help.... If you do go to www.barnardos.org.uk and please do....... you will see our work under "NO SON OF MINE" and "WHOSE DAUGHTER NEXT" these are important documents and pieces of work... Colin also wrote > again you are right. However, given the right understanding love and > support, by both lay people and professionals, this situation can be > alleviated to a certain degree. i don't believe it can be completey, not > form my experience anyway. My reply.... Our work redresses that abuse and goes into overdrive on damage limitation for their own future.... Our strap lineof "Giving children back their future" recognises the importance of giving children hope and a future to look forward to.... WE need to alter our perceptions of what the issues are rather than always taking the "moral" high-ground with todays children. helping them to enjoy life and realise they are all future citizens of this world and are of the utmost importance, is part of returning this society to some semblance of the word..... civilised..... We ignore the part they play in our world at our peril... AS we sow, so shall we reap... Lucy
