MBO Impact Report 2019

References
(1) Pressures on Children’s Social Care –
National Audit Office 23.1.2019
(2) Are these the priorities for children’s
social care in 2019 Community Care
(3) University of Lancaster research
– Violent proletarianisation: social
murder, the reserve army of labour
and social security ‘austerity’ in Britain
(4) https://assets.publishing.service.
gov.uk/government/uploads/
system/uploads/attachment_data/
file/859422/Annual_Report_of_
Her_Majesty_s_Chief_Inspector_of_
Education__Children_s_Services_
and_Skills_201819.pdf
(5) The Care Crisis Review –
https://www.frg.org.uk/images/
Care_Crisis/CCR-FINAL.pdf
(6) https://www.theguardian.com/
society/2020/jan/09/councils-underhuge-pressure-as-number-of-childrenin-care-soars-england
(7) https://schoolsweek.co.uk/
send-pupil-proportion-rise-dfe/
Testimony
of an ex-pupil
The Mulberry Bush School was the
only place that I ever settled in for any
significant amount of time, it was the
only place over my childhood that ever
felt like a real home, the only place out
of (65) placements that didn’t breakdown,
leaving was the hardestthing I ever had
to do, and not by choice, leaving was the
downfall of my entire life, 53 children’s
homes, 7 secure units and 1 foster place
later, I have serious mental health issues,
multiple suicide attempts under my belt
and a criminal record list longer than I care
to admit (all before the age of 16) I needed
the continuity the Bush offered to continue
for many more years than it could, my life
would have been so much better, I would
have been a better person, the only place
that ever tried to understand me and help
me to have some self worth. Without the
Bush I think I would have been lost forever,
somehow as I had to adjust to life on my
own after the care system spat me out,
I managed to claw back a somewhat
semi-decent person but everyday is
a fight and truly exhausting.
I come back to the Bush as part of the
ex-pupils advisory team because I honestly
hope in this day and age that other young
people just like me are not being failed like
I was after the Bush, I come back because
I want to see how things are improving,
such as the newly built 52 week house
which I know would have benefited me
hugely at that time, it makes me hopeful
that less kids are suffering overall and it
humbles me that I can try and help in a
small way, the Bush is also a little piece
of heaven in my heart that I need to revisit
often to remind me that somebody
cared and that at some point in my life,
I was truly lucky to have found temporary
peace and respite in my life even if it was
for a short time. I come back because
I know the Bush truly cares about its
young people not just whilst placed there,
I am fortunate that I have 2 important
people in my life whom I met at the Bush,
they still come and visit me in blue moon
and they are a lifeline if I need it, these
people have been in my life for 25 years
and I wouldn’t be me without them, and I
hope future generations of the Bush has a
couple of staff that check up on them, visit
once a year, make a few phone calls and
take an interest in the distance, when you
have nobody else, its everything.
The main things I learned at The Mulberry
Bush that have helped me in my life are:
• To be proud of who I am.
• To accept my good and bad points.
• To accept responsibility for my actions,
and always work on the negative
aspects to improve them.
• To always communicate about my
feelings, both good and bad, as bottling
up things never solves the problem.
• Talking about my emotions and feelings
is vital, as it enables me to work through
the issues, learn from the situation,
and be happier in myself.
• Also, by telling my children every day
that I love them, it makes them feel
better too. As sharing the good
feelings is just as important.
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