Her first trip to Margate when she was 13 was not for a visit to the seaside…trust. She was “going country”. Or County Lines as professionals now call it. She had never gone country before. She was scared. You would never admit that, but she was. She missed her mumsie but knew she had to…
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.
Is there a Gangs and CSE problem in Kent? (Asking for a friend)
Kent and Medway Gangs Strategy “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter”- Martin Luther King. The above quote by Martin Luther King was how Sammy finished her talk at the gang’s conference on Wednesday. And for this blog…sorry Sammy…but I need to nick it for 5 mins…
Identity and Belonging
Identity and Belonging Event Identity and Belonging. I am speaking and training at a conference tomorrow titled: Identity and Belonging, Gangs, Schools, and community: Psychology, research, and practice. It has been organised by Kent University and I am really looking forward to it for a few reasons. First, I am always humbled when invited to…
“She is an animal…We shouldn’t have to take kids like her”
Today I hurt my hip when I was playing with my daughter on the trampoline. To be fair, I have been getting aches and pains for a while. I may be 38 in years but my body…and mind… feel well beyond those years. But we will come back to that another time. My daughter loves…
Like an Angel…
I just looked through my blogs twice and realised I have not yet spoken about Annabel!!! Annabel a young person that I work with. Obviously, her name is not Annabel, but for today that is what we will call her (She would not be impressed in my chosen name. Trust me lol) I am shocked…
Shame on you
My boss said this to me today. He said, “They don’t want to speak the unspeakable”. He was referring to professionals who try and down play the gangs and CSE problem that is rife all over the UK. I am shocked by the number of practitioners and professionals in the UK that still choose to…
The Roadman and the Seagull
I believe that you learn new things everyday about life and about people. Today I was sitting at the train station (Why is it always at the train station?). I was a little earlier than usual and it was quiet. I was the only person waiting. I was sitting on the bench, on my phone,…
Peer power
Peer power Today on the way to work I was chatting with fellow colleagues who are also fellow mums. We discussed that you must never dismiss or underestimate how children and young people may feel when things within their peer group go wrong. Or right. One of the ladies I was chatting with said that…
“Back on road”
I put a blog out last month talking about how hectic my week was and all the things that had happened during that time. I clearly remember thinking….wow…you won’t have many weeks like that. But these past 7 days have been so emotional, so draining, so rewarding and eye opening that I must talk about…
Right place…Right time
Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. As a wise man told me….Nothing is ever wasted. So today I attend someone else’s training on gangs and CSE. My presentations and training are based around a very streets level understanding. What is…
Out of the Shadows 