My name is Nikki. I arrived at St Nicholas Lodge in October 2003 after leaving my foster home of 5 years. When I arrived at St Nicholas Lodge I was terrified because all I was used to was just me and my brother, and coming into an environment with loads of different personalities was a big shock for me. However, the staff explained to me that everyone was different and gave me ways to deal with them. As time went past, I made some really close friends with the staff and the residents. The only hard times I had were when people I got close to moved on, however, with the help of my key worker, Krissy and the manager Tiffany, I found it easier to cope.

As much as I don’t like to admit it, I was some what a rebel, I was rude, argumentative and aggressive. I was constantly being kicked out of school for my attitude and getting into fights with people I lived with. I didn’t like being this way, and every time I did something bad I would cry and feel bad about what I had done, but with the help of people like Kevin, Mark, Krissy, Tiffany and Steve, to name a few, I managed to control my anger and think before I acted. After I had learnt to do this, my time at St Nicholas Lodge became happier. I enjoyed going on holidays and having girly chats with the female members of staff. I even learned through the staff how to be a shoulder to cry on for the new members of our household.

After what seemed like a lifetime, I completed my GCSE’s gaining 6 A to C grades which got me into college to study a BTEC national diploma in care.

It was very hard for me having to leave St Nicholas Lodge, they had been such a great impact on my life and I knew it would be sad for me to go, but the boss and his staff made it clear to me that I was more than welcome to come back and visit.

With the help of Steve, he found me a suitable flat for me to live in and he also paid for me to go on holiday to Ibiza with my boyfriend while I was waiting for my flat to be finalised.

I will always remain close friends with Steve and his staff. They made me who I am today and without them I wouldn’t be going to University to become a Social Worker and I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Thank you!

Nikki