Many have positive experiences of being looked after, but some don’t. We understand that young people may be angry, they may have been let down, they may not trust, and we also recognise that coming to live in Exeter may not have been a choice.
Whilst we can’t change what has happened on the journey so far, we can help change what happens from a young person’s arrival at an ExeChanges house.
“ExeChanges recognise that being a looked after child, irrelevant of how smooth the process is and regardless of how at ease you are with your life story so far… it can be hard.”
Well… those who have walked on paths that have been smooth, gentle, surrounded by roses and tulips and free from hazards may say that independence is ‘when you can do things alone successfully without support’...
...Some people get to walk on paths that are lovely and smooth – perhaps a river view, perhaps the odd squirrel running into your path… but then a huge gaping sinkhole appears with fire-spitting dragons swooping in as you’re trying to negotiate the obstacle.
You manage it and it’s then back to the flowers and butterflies until another hurdle is comes along...
...Other people never seem to get the smooth path; it's constantly bumpy and gritty, painful and tiresome to walk on…
...Put this into the context of independence. If you're walking on a smooth path with no bumps, danger or hurdles, you could probably learn to walk and then stop and maybe cook? Or perhaps stop and put the washing machine on. You would be able to do this because you would have time to focus on these tasks instead of having to concentrate on keeping yourself safe...
...But, it’s VERY hard to learn to cook, budget, clean, do laundry, learn to drive etc when trying to keep safe and to simply walk the bumpy, gritty, unsafe path….
...Exechanges recognise that life has to slow down, chaos needs to ease and your life has to become a little boring and sensible to allow you the space to make independent healthy choices.
ExeChanges aim to provide you with the calm.
The boring. The sensible. A world without drama and chaos. A calm, relaxed and safe home within an organisation whose only focus is on creating a positive outcome for you.
