Today’s headline is pretty self explanatory but in case you didn’t get it I will explain what this post is about.
I have always felt that the work opportunities for those who disclose the fact they have been within the care system are much lower than those who have led a normal family life. Whilst it can be demonstrated that a lot of these children have participated in undesirable activities and behaviours one must take into account the history they have experienced that others haven’t. In my opinion it is these experiences and the mistakes that children in care have made that make them the best workers. It makes them resilient, it makes them hardworking and dedicated to any position which they enjoy and yet hardly any of them end up in full time work causing them to slip back into old behaviours.
I once met a child in care who told me they wanted to be a Teacher when they grew up. Now almost everyone I knew was sceptical about this actually happening but they entertained the idea anyway, the child wasn’t the brightest but he was a hard worker but no-one seemed to recognise this trait over his academic ability. It just so happened that he is now studying at university in his second year of teacher training and is all set to be leaving with a brilliant qualification and soon a full time teaching position. Now to everyone who doubted him I ask why you even questioned his ambition in the first place. Some of them would probably reply that it was because he wasn’t the brightest and it just didn’t seem possible with his behaviour but for me this is no excuse as no-one can ever predict the long term achievement of someone no matter how dire their shorter term prospect seem. It just isn’t feasible.
I know for a fact that if employers took just a chance on a vast majority of the people that have been in care then they would be pleasantly surprised. These people are probably the hardest working, most creative and dedicated individuals I have ever met and they could easily take a company to new heights if given the chance to do so.
Please share this message so it can have some sort of effect on those in charge of giving young people a chance to work…
Barnaby.
Sect20 