Children deemed to be in crisis could be provided with a new home in East Cowes.
Mr and Mrs Surman have submitted a planning application to County Hall for a change of use of 70 Adelaide Grove in East Cowes.
The existing 4-storey property has been used as a family home by the applicants for several years, according to a statement from SJC Planning.
It says the building will be managed and operated by Nucleus Horizons who have a fully registered children’s home in Southampton.
The document notes:
“The applicants operate a similar children’s home in Southampton, fully registered, staffed and able to provide care, opportunities and attention to those in need.
“It is considered that the benefit of providing a children’s care home such as this would be of great benefit to the Island community, providing registered and licensed premises that provide the local authority, and above all, children in crisis, with a caring home.”
SJC Planning says Mrs Surman has significant experience and expertise in social care and considers the property would give disadvantaged children the best opportunities in what are otherwise often ‘very upsetting situations’.
The property will gain full OFSTED accreditation following planning permission, according to the consultancy.
County Hall’s public consultation on proposal 26/00621/FUL ends on 15th June and a decision is expected on 3rd July.
This is the wrong locality for such a home, the core market for these children are ones who are actually young adults who have no social skills and have never had the word NO said to them, they are effectively out fo control and will not be controlled or even have a curfew.
We are now living in a world where respect is lost,
parents cannot control their children etc etc
Of course these children will have curfews. They will also have boundaries and support for probably the first time in their little lives. Hope the neighbours will offer to share their skills and time and hope for a positive future
Lucky old neighbours.
I feel very sorry for the neighbours.
Of course. Let’s sneer and blame children for situations outside their control and say ‘not in my back yard’. Let’s increase the stigma for Looked After Children just in case they should bring your neighbourhood down.
After all, over two thirds have already suffered…
Abuse or Neglect: This is the most common reason. It includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or a chronic failure to provide basic needs (food, shelter, or medical care).
Family Dysfunction: When household environments are destabilized by parental struggles like severe mental health issues, domestic abuse, or substance misuse (alcohol and drugs).
Family Crisis: Short- or long-term crises where parents are temporarily unable to cope, lack an adequate support network, or face sudden incapacitation.
Then there are those in respite care for medical reasons. Lump them in too. Yuk. Yuk. Tut tut.
Now ask me what I think of a system whereby a house wasn’t making enough revenue for its owners so decided to ‘rent’ it out to the care system with underpaid, underqualified staff to run it for the princely sum of between FIVE AND TEN THOUSAND POUNDS A WEEK, more for specific medical needs.
But you keep blaming the kids. It’s easier, isn’t it?
Oh dear; more people wading in with unkind comments and no knowledge. This has been my life for the last twelve years. Almost twenty kids have been housed with me by the local authority when their parents could no longer care for them, mostly teenagers. In the main part they have been brave, amazing, funny and respectful, and have been made homeless through no fault of their own. I don’t think that the neighbours were even aware.