Ben's Story
Ben and his siblings had witnessed incidents domestic abuse. Children’s social services had been involved with the family due to a hostile relationship between the Mum and her partner.
Read Ben’s story here:
Ben's Story
Ben moved into Cornfield Cliffe in October 2022 due to a fall out with his mum. Children’s social services had been involved with the family due to a hostile relationship between the Mum and her partner. Ben and his siblings had witnessed incidents domestic abuse, so Mum was ordered by services that she was not to allow her partner any access to her children. Ben discovered Mum had been allowing the partner to spend time with the younger sibling so reported Mum to social services. This caused the relationship between Mum and Ben to breakdown and Ben was thrown out of the home.
Ben’s Mum did not report Ben’s absence to any of the services involved or seek to find Ben any support. As a result of all this traumatic activity, Ben’s siblings were removed from Mum’s custody and Ben found a space with Nightsafe at Cornfield Cliffe.
When Ben moved into Cornfield, he did have a social worker but now that Ben is over the age of 18, he is no longer open to them. Ben said that he had expressed a wish to see his younger sister on a number of occasions but no action was taken.
Staff have agreed to contact social services and try to arrange this for him. Having settled well at Cornfield, Ben attends college studying business and is on track for triple distinction.
Ben is able to get himself to college independently setting off at 7am every morning to take the two buses there, 5 days a week.
Ben is able to get himself to college independently setting off at 7am every morning to take the two buses there, 5 days a week.
Ben appears to be a well-adapted, organised young person who knows where he wants to be in life. The stability of Cornfield Cliffe and support from the staff there have allowed Ben to thrive at college, with high achievement.
Ben is hoping that once he has completed his college course, he will successfully move on to University and live on campus for the next 3 years of his life. Nightsafe provided a safe and secure place to live that enabled Ben to grow and develop and consider his future – and we will continue to support him as he takes steps towards the next chapter in his life and beyond.
** Images shown are not of actual person to protect their identity.
