Who We Help » Carl
Carl is one of the young men Life of Your Own was established to support.
Years of fostering, children's homes, and institutional settings left him feeling useless to society and even himself - calling attention to his right to exist in ways which clashed with his involvement in the community.
When Life of Your Own created the home for Carl, new routines had to be established as the cornerstone of building the future. These were designed to create predictability but also allow room for growth and diversity.
For the first few years with Life of Your Own, the home providers and support workers were instrumental in creating the community around Carl.
Now he has become the community builder in his own life. Over the last six years, he has grown into someone with a very full and active life.
He struggled for a time to negotiate the terms of living with a family as a home sharer, but he has learnt the emotional and practical skills of domestic life and has successfully cemented his role as an 'uncle' towards Jack, whom he has known since a baby.
The development of these abilities is enabling us to consider the next steps towards increasing independent and inter-dependent activities.
Importantly Carl sees himself as part of other circles of support - as a friend with people his own age; as a caring helper with a strong capacity to relate with elderly people; as a contributing member of his local church; and as a much appreciated advocate for Life of Your Own itself.
Learning the role and value of money has been an important lesson for Carl, and he has worked hard at a variety of jobs - walking dogs at a local kennel facility and labouring independently at a woodyard. He is now settled in full time employment as a contract gardener.
He really enjoys weekly driving lessons and, as involvement in the community continues to develop successfully, his confidence increases. This confidence projects itself in his bearing, and he demonstrates responsibility every day.
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