ABSTRACT
A 16-year-old young woman and myself, were sitting opposite each other, in a South London café. After initial introductions to the research she began to tell me her story. In the previous year she had moved out of her family home and had unsuccessfully approached Social Services to access the support she required. The help required initially was assistance in moving out of her family home. But, she explained, she also required practical support in order to look after herself away from her family, and therapeutic support to address the emotional difficulties of having been sexually abused. Social Services, she felt, had not believed her story. She talked about a social worker not really listening to her, and of her belief that adult hostels were inappropriate spaces for adolescents. She considered the support received through her college and through the charity for which I was working to be crucial. The discussion was progressing well: the young woman talking freely, and I listening, intently.
