This week, we’d like to help a teenage mum called Ava and her baby boy.
Ava was abused by a sibling and her dad growing up, and ended up in foster care. She also lived in a children’s home for a little while. At 17, she was homeless for almost a year. During that time, she was groomed and exploited by people she thought were her friends. They tried to sell her to people they owed money to and would use her to pay off debts.
When she fell pregnant, she knew she had to leave. “I knew I couldn’t raise a child around people like them. I fled and never looked back. My son is the most important person in my life and I’m glad he will grow up knowing his mum did what she had to so he can live a normal life.”
She moved into a refuge and gave birth to her baby boy 6 months ago. They've been moved between B&Bs since he was born, but have just secured permanent housing. She has a support worker from the care leaving team, who said: “Ava is doing an amazing job. She has overcome many challenges and I am so very proud of the young woman she is becoming and the mother she is.”
Ava is working hard to make life better for them both but she could really do with some extra help. Her parents are in prison and she has very little support from anyone. She has received grants from social services for white goods, a one-off payment to help her buy a cot and some essential items for her baby, and she found some second-hand bits and pieces - but there is so much more she needs.
We’d like to help Ava get set up properly in her new home and give her and her baby boy all the kindness and support they deserve.
*Name has been changed and stock image used to protect their identity