When Sarah’s adoptive mother moved to France with her new partner Sarah moved in with her boyfriend but the relationship broke down and she had to move out. Sarah was diagnosed with hearing problems and her mother approached some organisations which helped deaf people to find somewhere to live and they referred her to the YMCA in Southampton.
Sarah and her older brother were placed into foster care when she was two years old. Her birth parents had moderate learning difficulties and were unable to look after them both and their father was often aggressive towards them and their mother. Sarah’s other siblings were also placed into foster care separately. After her foster parents separated, Sarah and her brother were adopted by another family and moved away but a few years later they got divorced. Sarah’s adoptive mother moved to France with her new partner and Sarah moved in with her boyfriend but had to move out when the relationship ended. Whilst she was working one night at the local cinema, she was violently attacked. As there was not enough evidence, the police could not take it further. Sarah never really got over the trauma of the attack particularly as she did not have the support of her family to help her through it. Sarah left the area and with nowhere else to go, her adoptive mother contacted an organisation that helps deaf people find somewhere to live and they referred her to the YMCA.
Sarah completed her education and obtained several GCSEs but did not enjoy school much as a result of being bullied there. Sarah started doing an Animal Management course but found this too difficult due to her hearing problems as well as having to work at the same time.
Sarah is quite a shy person but has opened up and talked openly about her experiences. She comes across as a gentle, caring young woman but whose experiences in life have left her feeling vulnerable and isolated.
She is not working at the moment but is actively looking for employment.
She is currently doing a work placement with the Hampshire Deaf Association for two days a week where she is doing a variety of administrative work.
Sarah has settled in well at the YMCA and has made some really good friends including the person who is now her best friend. She is happy living there and finds her key worker and staff very helpful and supportive. She is still in touch with her brother, some of her siblings and her birth mother even though she does not see them often. She is quite close to her adoptive mother who is living in France and runs a Pet Farm there.
Recently the YMCA have arranged for six volunteers to go over including Sarah to help out for a couple of weeks and Sarah helped to arrange this. Sarah has mentioned that with the help of her support worker she is working through the issues that have happened to her in the past and she is finding this really helpful.
In the future, Sarah would like to work with animals and is hoping to do a course in Animal Care. Sarah would like to do an Animal Management course and feels that with this qualification her chances of doing this would be much higher.
Sarah should stay for as long as possible or at least until she has completed the course that she would like to do in the supportive environment of the YMCA. Sarah should stay at the YMCA until she feels that she is ready to live independently.