The Homecoming

Comments

1. Hi, I had been in a home with my brother, it was a very scarey and awlful time for both of us, especially when we got seperated and could only see each other at certain times. We did have a better up bringing with being in the home, and know that we were clothed and fed alot better. I was bullied at school because children thought I were different because being in care. I had great holidays and met some true good friends in the home. I still keep in contact with a male friend who I look up to as my brother, my daughter found him for me on 'Friends reunited'. We still kept in touch on phone and E.mail and Text each other regular. He actually Flew all the way down from Aberdeen to see me in south east, and we had a day touring the kids homes that was open to the public, or ourselfs, booked a day in with the staff at Dr. Barnadoes to show us round. The staff could not be nicer, and felt for us. I did go to the open day with my brother 7yrs ago, it was very moving and got plenty of feed back from all the people who shared the same experience as myself and my brother. unfortunatly I did not meet any one who was in the home with me at that time. Spent 5 years there, and when I was told to go home when things got better and was able to go back to my mother, I did not want to leave. god bless every one who had been in the home, we have to move on.

   Posted by barbara on 24/07/2009 14:28:06

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2. I remember Michael and Steven from Hillside Middle school and i would love for them to get in touch

   Posted by judges007 on 23/05/2009 00:55:46

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3. i was in care would like to learn more about other peoples experiances as i think i had sum gd and sum bad experiances i would like to contact the lady whom was making the documentery xx

   Posted by vikki on 17/05/2009 02:10:03

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4. Having been in the care system inthe 1980's it was good to here a story that turned out well, my story was somewhat very different to my own story. i am currently writing a book about my experiences. thank you channel 4 for a truely enlightening series of programes re- forgoten children

   Posted by Brian on 16/05/2009 19:27:50

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5. Thank you so much Rachel for sharing your experiences. The programme was extremely moving. I work with children who have mental health difficulites some of whom are in care. I often feel so sad when I think about some of their futures as they have all been through so much, I wonder how they can make a life for themselves. I felt your programme showed hope and positivity as well as sadness, and that there are some extremely decent and loving people working and caring in the care system today. Thanks you.

   Posted by katie on 16/05/2009 09:24:57

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6. I was looked after for around 4 years in a fantastic home in the mid 1980's. These people are my family and many of them are still in my lie now. It was the best thing that ever happened to me and turned my life around. I have gone on to higher education and have a lifelong partner. It makes me so cross when I hear about all the negativity associated with care. We're not lost causes and it's time that society and social care stopped scapegoating us as such. I don't tell people now that I was looked after because of so many previous negative reactions. People are often mistrusting of things that they don't understand I guess... Rachel, your program was fantastic & I cried along with you, beause I too often feel that pang of curiosity and feel that ache from being seperated from my 'care family'. Your program should be shown to those in care now so that they can see the same thing we can, that there is life in care and there is life after care.

   Posted by fuzz on 15/05/2009 20:30:16

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7. What a marvellous and moving programme. I was a social worker in the 1970s and recall several families whose circumstances echoed Rachel's. It was heartening to see that not all children in care have had bad experiences, and that some have done very well.

   Posted by cjb on 15/05/2009 16:54:05

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8. Found Homecoming to be a very moving and compelling piece of tv. What was left unanswered was whether Rachel is in touch with her sister, and whether her subsequent childhood experiences measured up to life with Tina.

   Posted by myra on 15/05/2009 13:06:35

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9. Hi, I posted a comment after last nights show, but it didn't get displayed. Perhaps it was a little too personal? What I would like to say is I was gripped by this programme, I found so much identification and brought to the forefront of my mind many memories, good and bad from my time in care. Thankyou Rachel and channel4 for a programme that was so sensitive yet such a vividly accurate portrayal of the effects and feelings felt by many thousands of children who have been brought up in the care system.

   Posted by Steve Richardson on 15/05/2009 10:14:37

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10. I found this documentary very moving, but I just wondered why there was very little mention of Rachel's sister Jenny? She didn't go to the reunion and she wasn't really spoken of beyond the fact she was in the care home with her sister. It just seemed to go unmentioned in the programme and left me wondering?

    Posted by Alex on 15/05/2009 09:28:20

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11. Watching This Programme Tongight Bought Back Memories From When Me And Sisters Were Put Into Care. It Was In The 80's. I Can't Remember A Lot Of What Happened There, We Wasn't There Long Was There 19 Day's. Every Year After That We Was Fostered Every August For Roughly 2 Weeks, Different People, Different Places, Split Up From One Another :(,

    Posted by Amanda on 15/05/2009 00:34:28

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12. Rachel thanks for making such an incredibly honest, warm and powerful programme. I was gripped from beginning to end and moved to tears by everyone's experiences both in childhood and adulthood as they dealt, in their own way, with some of the issues around identity, relationships and abandonment. I've been through my own adoption search, though I wasn't in care, and know that fitting pieces of the jigsaw together can take you on a rollercoaster of conflicting emotions that often impacts on every part of your life. Your experience and your subsequent involvement in mentoring are a real inspiration and I hope to read more by or about you soon.

    Posted by Liz Vater on 14/05/2009 22:54:26

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13. Hi Rachel. I just wanted to say thanks very much for making the programme - it was a very moving insight into the experiences of children in care. I've been considering for a while now what I could offer to children in are currently in the care system. Watching the programme has convinced me to start by signing up to an independent visitor's scheme.

    Posted by Mark Mallabone on 14/05/2009 22:41:40

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14. Can i just say how very moved i was at your story and how you shared what was a happy up bringing for you. I was moved to tears and was happy for you that you made contact and was reunited with what was your family when you was growing up.

    Posted by stephanie on 14/05/2009 22:37:16

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