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Independent VisitingKatie's story is a good example of how Reconstruct visitors and mentors support children and young people . You may also find our FAQ's page a useful link to visit. Katie's StoryI am fourteen years old and live in foster care. Some of my family live in Spain and I don’t see them very much. I like pop music and hamsters, especially my pet hamster called bubbles. I have some learning difficulties and go to a special school I can find it difficult to control my temper and I sometimes break things. My dad used to call me a nutter. I don't see him anymore. My social worker, Steve, helped me write this, has told me that I am now living with my ninth foster family, but I could only remember six lots until he showed me the list of all the family's where I have lived. He told me that an old social worker of mine (the one before last called Diana) filled in a form and gave it to a company called reconstruct. For the last four years I have been regularly going out, mostly on Sundays with Pippa, who is my Independent visitor. She started visiting me when I lived with a different family, but we have continued to meet after I moved. Pippa also likes hamsters and we often go in her car to the big pet shop next to B&Q to buy bubbles some treats. When we are in Pippa's car she lets me put her car radio on quite loud and we usually sing along together as she drives. We meet up and go out together about every four weeks, but Pippa also comes with me to my meetings I have in school or in my foster home, like my review. Pippa says that she just wants to make sure that I am ok and that she sticks up for me. Pippa is in her forties, but she is fun to be with for someone who is older. Next time we meet we are going out for lunch and to do some shopping, as Pippa is going to help me choose a present to send to my Nan ( who lives in Spain) as it is her birthday. In between visits Pippa and I sometimes send each other texts to let us know how we are both doing, sometimes Pippa likes to know if Bubbles is ok and what he is up to. We send each other postcards from our holidays and birthday and Christmas cards too. |
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