I felt like leaving a toxic environment

When Emily was growing up, life never felt safe. Her early childhood was spent in a foster home where she was neglected and mistreated, leaving her feeling invisible and unwanted. By the time she was 14, she believed running away was her only chance at freedom. One night, she slipped into the darkness of Cumbria, hoping things might finally get better.

But instead of finding safety, she was approached by a man who promised her kindness and a place to stay. Trusting him, Emily followed – and this decision led to something far worse. She was taken to London and moved around the country by people who exploited her. For three months, Emily was passed from place to place, staying only briefly in each one, and suffering repeated abuse from adults who pretended to care about her.

Getting support

Emily often found herself reflecting on the absence of those she cared about, feeling the weight of their distance. She longed for connection but feared reaching out, convinced that social workers and other authorities would judge her or fail to grasp her reality. “They’d never understand what it’s really like.” she thought, her mistrust deepening the sense of isolation that surrounded her.

This constant struggle, wanting acceptance yet feeling controlled, left Emily powerless, fearful, and unseen. Without the right guidance, she couldn’t imagine a safe way forward. The silence around her felt suffocating, and every missed opportunity for understanding pushed her further into despair. When the charity stepped in, it offered something different: a voice she could trust, someone who listened without judgment and understood her circumstances. Through their support, Emily began to see that change was possible. For the first time in a long while, hope didn’t feel so distant—it felt like a path she could take.