When is it time to shut up?

When is it time to shut up?

Yesterday I spoke on BBC Radio Oxford about The Brightness of Stars and today I find myself paying the emotional price. I have an extensive emotional threshold but today I’m sat on its edge.

Kat was a superb interviewer and probably had as much knowledge on the subject of being in care as anyone would without direct or professional experience. So I was delighted that she wanted to hear more and had invited me to come and speak about my book, my experiences and my views, particularly in reference to vulnerable young people in care and the recent case of the Oxford Sex Ring.

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Food and Children in Care

Food and Children in Care

One of the areas around having been in care that has always been of great fascination to me is the matter of food and children in care. My placements as a teenager are remembered through the lens of being able to centrally locate the experience via food. Each placement offers up images, tastes and meal time routines that will never leave me.Continue reading

Children Abused In Care – Is Looking The Other Way Finally Going To Stop?

Children Abused In Care – Is Looking The Other Way Finally Going To Stop?

The news this week has been telling us in its shocked and horrified media voice what those of us who have been in care have always known; children in care are vulnerable and will be, and have always systematically been, targeted precisely for being so.

It’s been distressing listening to the horrors ‘revealed’ over the last few months and if you wanted to feel shocked and upset then this week has delivered well as we learned of the organised paedophile ring in Oxford and the new Police investigation into the Conservative MPs who had a party or two supplied with children from the local children’s home for their pleasure.Continue reading

Why Are We Unravelling a Dead Man’s Abuse?

Feeling a little astounded by some of the viewpoints that are emerging onto my Facebook wall and in my twitter feed,  I feel compelled to unravel and explore some of them and am intrigued by public perception on the matter of Jimmy Savile.

He’s dead so why are we bothering?

Yes he’s dead and therefore will not be brought to justice. He kindly leaves his family, his trustees and people who trusted him to deal with the aftermath of his actions.

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