Lucy
Click to enlarge
Lucy is the youngest of three siblings. Her mother was an
alcoholic and her step-father used to fly into rages and punch them
both. Growing up, Lucy often went hungry for days on end, with no
food for her anywhere in the house. As her mother's alcoholism got
worse, the state of the house deteriorated rapidly. Eventually,
Lucy was trying to do her homework surrounded by squalor, alcohol
and the threat of violence.
Easier not to go home
Lucy started sleeping on floors and stayed with anyone who
could give her a roof over her head. At first it was with mates
but, when she could no longer count on them, it was pimps and drug
dealers who stepped in. One guy made Lucy feel safe. "He seemed so
friendly," she recalls, "but then he started hitting me." He forced
her to have sex for money and started dealing drugs. "I had to get
away from there. But I didn't know where else to go."
Practical support
Thankfully, Lucy was referred to Centrepoint, where she
not only had a warm, safe room but also regular support and
development meetings. These regular sessions helped Lucy with her
reading and writing - she'd found it harder and harder to keep up
with her schoolwork. She now has a CV and is busy filling out job
application forms.
More than just a room
Slowly, Lucy is turning from a scared, damaged girl into someone
with more confidence in her ability to look after herself. She's
learning how to cook nutritious meals and keep a household
budget.
Future ambitions
Lucy is starting to appreciate the well-rounded girl that
she has become and is now able to make plans for the future. Our
help will make sure that she can achieve her ambitions.