DRIVER's TESTIMONY
Our secure transport services are designed to give young people the best experience possible at times in their lives when they need to be moved from one place to another.
Please read the testimony below to hear first hand from one of our drivers about what motivates him to ensure that young people have the best experience possible on their journey.
If you would like to book our transport services, please click the button below to go to our booking page.
I remember being put into the care of the local authority at the age of 13. It was a long time ago. I was a wayward kid. Following the breakup of my parents’ marriage, I went completely off the rails. I wouldn’t go to school, I wouldn’t go home at nights, and I started getting into trouble with the police.
The next thing I knew, I was standing in court. I had been caught in a stolen car.
Following being sentenced to a care order, I looked across the courtroom and I saw my mum crying. I didn’t understand what it all meant, I didn’t know what a care order was.
I was taken in a car from Wolverhampton court to a care home in Birmingham, and at the time I had no idea where I was going.
I was taken to a very high, wide and large looming mansion house, it looked daunting and scary. I remember that I refused to cry – choosing to look strong. Even though deep down I was screaming, I was not going to let it show.
It didn’t help that the man who picked me up from the court sat in silence for the entire journey – so I sat in silence also. It was an awkward silence. None of us knew what to say to each other.
I wanted conversation. I needed to talk. I wanted to know more about what was going on, where I was going, who was I going to, why was I going there, when could I go back home, and when could I see my mum. My head was full of questions but it was obvious that this guy was not in the mood for talking to me. I’m not even sure if he could have even answered any of my questions! I wasn’t going to try and force conversation out of him once he made that obvious.
I remember feeling very hungry from being in a cell all night and in a court all day. I watched out of the car window as we drove past cafes, sandwich shops and restaurants as I imagined what I would choose to eat had I been given the opportunity.
Following my arrival at the institution, I was handed over to a mean looking man who called me ‘boy’, instead of my name. He was handed a folder by the driver and I knew that the contents of the folder was all about me and what a bad kid I was.
This was the beginning of a folder that I watched grow and grow like a living thing as my life went on.
I then looked around and the driver was gone – no goodbye, good luck, take care – nothing! Still not a word said between us.
I remained silent, observing my surroundings. It felt cold. It was winter time. Dark nights came early and it was now dark, the day had flashed past like a horrible dream, a nightmare. Everything in the establishment looked grey and drab, I vividly remember that there was no colour, there was nothing to be colourful about, It had a smell that I later associated with prison, cheap cleaning products, disinfectant, and despair. It was a smell that I would become familiar with throughout my lifetime.
The man told me to follow him.
He took me to a dormitory that was full of beds – about twelve in total. I realised that it was one of many dormitories in the establishment that I later found out was called ‘Tennel’. It was supposed to be a care home but they didn’t know what the word “care” meant!
The man who called me “boy” pointed at a bed, then he looked me up and down and informed me “boy, this is now your bed”. I looked at the grey painted metal bed frame. The paint was peeling and the paper thin mattress was dirty and folded in half, as though it was trying to hide even more dirt than was already visible.
The man who called me “boy” carried a strange look on his face that I couldn’t quite make out. I remember making a promise to myself at that moment that I would never spend one night in that bed if I could help it.
Following this I was taken into a dining room. It was dinner time – great! I was starving. The dining room was crowded with children of all ages. I remember my first mouthful of what supposed to be food, and I spat it straight out. It was disgusting. No matter how hungry I was, I was not eating that! I looked around the dining room and I remember thinking that all of the children looked like zombies – lifeless! I decided there and then that I would not be spending another minute in that place.
I asked to use the toilet. In the toilet there was a small window. I was a small kid at the time, so I climbed out of the window and made my escape…….
Many years later I found out the reason why all the children had that look in their eyes as if they were zombies, there was serious abuse going on in the home, it was closed down and many of the staff members were prosecuted.
I thank God that things have now changed and standards have been set for children whom have been placed into our care and responsibility.
YOU WILL NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION
Dennis was referred to Exit Foundation mentoring services exactly one week prior to being placed into the care of the Local Authority. He was known for not engaging with the statutory services and the professionals who were involved in his life, and there were serious concerns about him being groomed and exploited into county lines and other serious issues. Dennis was 14 years of age. Exit Foundation has a reputation for being able to engage with young people who are known for not engaging.
I met with Dennis and I immediately recognised myself at his age. There was no father figure in his life and his mother could not control him. Dennis had no school attendance, he was constantly being reported missing, and his peer group was negative. It was like looking in the mirror and seeing my past self.
One week after my first engagement with Dennis, I received a call from his mum informing me that he was to appear at Stratford Magistrates Court for stealing a car. Mum informed me that she had no way of getting to the court. I arranged to pick her up, and we went straight to the court in order to support Dennis, both mother and mentor.
Following the court proceedings it was decided that due to several factors, including mum’s inability to control Dennis and safeguarding issues around him, that he should be placed into the care of the Local Authorities – into a secure placement. Dennis’ mum found this news very difficult to hear.
Dennis’ mum had a short visit with him, after which I took her home. I then returned to the court where I sat with the social worker and Dennis in a room whilst arrangements were being made for his transportation to the placement address in Manchester.
After several hours it became clear that the social services were really struggling to obtain transportation for Dennis’ journey to Manchester.
Whist sitting in that room with Dennis throughout the day, I found myself thinking about my first experience of the care system.
It’s true that things have changed and come a very long way for the better regarding Young People in the care system. There are no more institutional facilities, and we now have Ofsted registration and regulations. I’m totally aware of the stringent requirements and standards to obtain Ofsted registration. I asked the Social Worker if the placement was Ofsted regulated and she informed me that it was.
After a couple more hours of waiting and then being informed that the court had to close, I then offered the service of Exit Foundation to take Dennis to the placement in Manchester. At this Dennis’s eyes lit up and he pleaded with the Social Worker to let me take him.
I made a quick risk assessment judgment on whether my short relationship with Dennis was sufficient enough to have gained his trust, and I believed that it was. I informed the Social Worker of my assessment and belief that Dennis would not try and run off – and I advised that I would take another staff member along with us for the extra security.
After a couple more hours of management discussion, and with the court having closed and us having to wait in the police cells, the Local Authority decided to let me take Dennis to his secure placement. This was the birth of Exit Foundation transport services.
I was determined to make Dennis’ journey to his new placement the complete opposite of my own experience of going into the care system. I let Dennis sit in the front of the car next to me as he requested whilst my colleague sat in the back seat. This way it was easier for Dennis to see my face whilst he spoke to me.
Dennis had a barrage of questions, all of which I had the answers for.
Q: When can I see my mum?
A: Anytime your mum is able to see you, the Local Authority will even help your mum out financially to ensure that she gets to see you.
Q: What’s the place like?
A: I’m not sure because it’s the first time I am going to this placement, but I give you my word that I will not leave you there if I would not leave my own son there!
Dennis loved this response as it seemed to reassure him. I trusted that I could say this statement with confidence because I knew that the placement was Ofsted registered. Also, I meant it.
Q: How many Young People are in the placement.
A: Just you and another Young Person from Liverpool.
The questions rolled in non-stop, quick, and fast. I again remembered all the questions that I wanted to ask when I was in Dennis position, and I was unable to even ask them, never mind get an answer.
I knew that Dennis was most certainly hungry as he had been kept in the police station all night. I pulled into the motorway service station where they had a variety of cafes and restaurants, and Dennis chose KFC. Whilst I was ordering the food, I looked around and saw Dennis in intense conversation with my colleague and fellow mentor David. David also had lived experience of the care system and he was able to easily pick up with Dennis from where I had left off.
As we got closer to the placement, I noticed apprehension starting to rise in Dennis. I quickly eased this apprehension by informing him that I would be going into the placement with him, checking out his room and the house, and informing him that he could ask anything from the home staff that he wanted to know whist I was there, and that I would advocate for him on his behalf. I told him that I would stay with him for an hour to help him to settle in and I also promised to visit him regularly as his mentor.
I kept every promise that I made with Dennis. The journey was a good one for all involved and we left Dennis with a smile on his face. The Local Authority was updated immediately upon Dennis’ safe arrival and I remember the feeling that I had knowing that another Young Person did not have the same experience that I did with a journey to a placement.
Paul Dayes, Director of EF transport.
The Young Person’s name has been changed for data protection.
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