For the first time in six years, Break has opened a new mainstream Children’s Home, bringing the total of homes for Looked After children in Norfolk to six.

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Alison Thomas, NCC Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Maureen Gardiner, Chair of Break Trustees cut the celebration cake

The new home in Thetford will be home to four young people aged 8 to 18.  Break will provide care and stability to these young people who have often had multiple placement breakdowns.

We aim to provide a safe, warm, stable, caring and thoughtful environment. In fulfilling these aims we also will ensure that our young people are equipped and supported for moving on into independence.   Staff and management will do all they can to ensure that they provide care that is of the highest possible standard, working closely with, family, social workers, teachers and many others.  We endeavour to create a homely environment and ensure that it is welcoming, both by the response of the staff and by the way the house is furnished and decorated.

The children and young people who come to the home may well have encountered numerous difficulties in their previous experiences.  These will range from neglect and abuse in various forms, to traumatic events through to family and placement breakdowns which can leave an enduring sense of rejection.  Our fundamental belief is that children and young people need a nurturing, calm, stable and reassuring environment where they can begin to make sense of their often painful past experiences.  Staff will sensitively respond to their individual needs and create a range of positive experiences where they can start to learn that life can be different.
 
Sadly, another consequence of traumatic experiences is that young people often have a very low opinion of themselves.  In order to help overcome this staff, work in ways to demonstrate that they are of value.  We give them time; we listen to them; we take note of their individual likes, dislikes and interests; we seek their opinions; we pay attention to the small details in their lives that can make so much difference.

The new home has been re-furbished and furnished to a high standard and management and staff celebrated the opening with special guest Cllr Alison Thomas, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

Hilary Richards, Break’s Director of Care Services said, “Break is committed to developing services to meet the need of local communities in East Anglia.  I am delighted that Break has been able to open a Children’s Home in Thetford and look forward to welcoming the first young people”.
 
With over 1,000 children in Norfolk in care it is Break’s intention to provide additional residential and fostering services across East Anglia within the next 3 to 5 years.  Break are in the process of setting up a new home in March, Cambridgeshire which will open in the New Year.

To read the Eastern Daily Press article on the Thetford children's home, click here.

For further information on the new home in Thetford, please contact the Manager, Lee Marshall on 01842 764781.