I strongly believe that children should be raised within big families/communities. These support networks are not only good for the child’s development but also a support system for the parents. Nothing more magical than big Christmas day dinners when everyone comes together to spend the day as one. Big family events where you see people…
Author: outoftheshadows18
My name is Kendra Houseman. I have been involved with Gangs, Exploitation and CSE for over 26 years on many different levels. I am originally from South West London. A complicated background, living in an inner-city estate, and a lack of communication between adults are just some of the factors that lead to me having to make some life changing choices starting at the age of 11. These choices led to many consequences and created “Blondy” the name and person I was known as on the streets of SW London.
Hidden Girls is NOT for entertainment purposes. It’s a statement. It’s a learning tool. It’s a resource. It’s to get people talking, to make a change, to give hope.
When I was asked to be part in a BBC documentary, initially I was unsure. I have said many times there are some things I won’t speak about and things that I know people would never want to hear. Sheldon Thomas of Gangs line and who had been part of the BBC documentary “Lost Boys”…
Calpol and Codine
Calpol and Codine This was a hard blog for me to write. I am often asked about drugs. People presume that because of my background I was a drug user. And I always say no. And I mean it when I say it. But it’s a lie. More a lie to myself and something that…
Keith Wells and Me….The man who would not let me give up…on myself.
There were very few times that my mum was ever disappointed in me. In fact, I can tell you how many. Two. Twice in my life my mum was ever disappointed in me. I mean…. she had many reasons and opportunities to be disappointed. What I put that woman through at times is unforgivable. But…
Knees deep in the Trap
To say we didn’t like each other the first time I met him would not be a lie but also not quite the truth. I would say it was more that we were indifferent to each other. I had been told about him for a long time. By other professionals, people in the local community…
Domestic Abuse: But I never beat you….
Domestic Abuse: But I never beat you…. It has taken me a long time to realise that we need to talk about domestic abuse in a raw manner. Yes, lots of people talk about domestic abuse and violence, but we only really hear the extremes it can go to when someone is killed, or a…
Jumping Jack Frost, Ice T…..and Me
I was about 12/13 the first time I watched New Jack City. I was, for sure, way to young. I loved it. It was like watching how things were in my area amplified by 100. I remember watching it once and saying to the people with me “Imagine life was like that”. Little did I…
Bianca Boyce and Me- Laying Foundations.
I am in transition. If I was a website and you clicked on me, a page would come up saying “Under construction”. Or, if you want to be more romantic about it, I’m in a chrysalis, transforming into something amazing. The fact that I even recognise that is massive for me. It means that its…
I left broken and returned grown. My journey home.
I went home today. My real home. SW London. More than that…I went to the flat that I grew up in. The flat where my son took his first breath, and my mum took her last. The walls of that place have seen and felt every emotion I can think of. And I have been…
Your Daughter is Autistic
It’s been just over a week but only now I am able to take it in and write about it. I always imagined that when it happened, I would be writing this blog instantly, shouting it from the rooftops. But it hit deeper than that. Harder. Do you know how many people have not believed…
Out of the Shadows 