My life: Gaven, 19

26 October 2004 1 min read

I went into care when I was three. I was in and out of care until the age of nine. I would be in foster placements, back home, children's homes, back home, my nan's, back home.

On my sixteenth birthday I had a choice: move out of care and get a place of my own or wait until the Leaving Care Act came in and get support and help with housing.

I made the really bad decision. I thought I would be able to cope. I didn't want to listen to social workers. I thought I could look after myself. I decided to move out and live with a friend. Soon after, he got kicked out of his flat. I ended up living on the streets for four months.

Now I realise it would have been better if I'd listened to social services.

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