Hello. My name is Emma Francis. I arrived at St. Nicholas Lodge on 29th March 2000 after leaving Highbury Crescent in Arsenal, London. I was moved to Broadstairs in 2000 by Elephant and Castle Crown Court as I was a persistent young offender and they thought it would be better for my future if I was moved from London to a quiet seaside town like Broadstairs.

Whilst in London I was arrested around 28 times by various police, for many things from mugging to A.B.H, and I was also arrested for T.D.A, but my worst time was when I got arrested for robbery of a shop and then G.B.H. The judge said I was I was a P.Y.O and had to be moved for own safety.

When I first arrived in Broadstairs I felt like I was being sent to prison as I had left my friends and family behind. The first time I walked in the front door I was met by a lady called Eve, and Lynn then Adam Taylor came out to say hello. They showed me to my new room so I could unpack and settle in. The staff tried hard to make me feel welcome but I just didn't want to be there because I was still missing my friends and family. A few weeks passed by and I started to settle down, but me being me, soon started to get into trouble again.

But luckily for me, the staff were very patient with me and I started to realise that what I had done was wrong. The great thing about St. Nicholas Lodge is you are never bored. They love to go on holidays, but you have to earn it. If you are a trouble maker you won't get an easy ride. The holidays to Butlins, Great Yarmouth and Blackpool were the best times, lots of different things to do. My favourite was the Quad Biking. All I wanted to do was go on the quad bikes!
After the holidays and the other things you do, like playing man-hunt and going to crazy golf, I realised that behaving myself was the right thing to do. As years passed by my behaviour got better and I was learning that a good education is what you need. The bossy Emma was slowly going, but I only learnt this because of all the help I got from the staff at St. Nicholas.

Now I am 18, a student at Thanet Technical College in my second year and I am studying health and social care so I can become a residential social worker. I know from my experiences that I have a lot to offer back, and I want to help people who are in the same situation as I was. But I know that it's all down to the staff at St. Nicholas Lodge.
The 4 years I spent in the house were hard at first but now I know that all the arguing and tears have paid off.

St Nicholas Lodge set me up in my own flat and helped me to become the person I am today. I owe them a lot and when I pass my college course and have a good job, I will know that it was their determination and my hard work that got me here today.