Staff and young people at Lothian Villa, one of East Lothian Council’s two residential units for looked-after young people, are on BBC2 on 28th and 31st March 2011 at 9pm, as part of actor Neil Morrissey’s Care Home Kid, a two-part reflection on his own experiences in care and what the care system is like today.

Lothian Villa Manager Andy Thorpe says:
‘The kids really enjoyed it and that’s what’s important.  And it was really good to see someone who’s come from care who’s achieved in life.  He’s a positive role model.

‘We’ve had lots of discussions about it since, like how it took a year to make the programme.  It’s given us all more of an understanding of what goes into making a TV programme.  It took three days to film and Neil Morrissey was there for two of them.  Filming took place at Lothian Villa and we did an evening at Musselburgh Sports Centre too.’

The BBC first talked to East Lothian Council about the possibility of filming at the Villa in February last year, and after meetings with the Head of Children’s Services, the Resource Team Manager and Andy Thorpe, it was decided that the BBC could approach the young people to see if they would like to take part.  The BBC researcher and director met with young people at the Villa to find out what was involved.  These meetings were facilitated by Who Cares? Scotland to make sure that the young people had their questions answered and did not feel pressured to take part.

During the documentary, Neil Morrissey talks to Jade, one of the young people at Lothian Villa, about her experience of care.  He also speaks to Jade’s worker, Carly McLennan, and to Andy Thorpe and to Max Smart, Assistant Manager.

Jade says of her experience:
‘I just got filmed. They asked about my life. It was fine working with the BBC. They were funny and a good laugh.  I really got on with them.  Neil was really nice, too.  He was sound and funny and always had something good to say about everyone. It took ages.  Neil and me compared experiences.

‘I was nervous.  It was hard because you’re not allowed to look at the camera; you had to look at Neil.  You get used to it in about five minutes, though, having the camera in your face.

‘I got teased about being famous by other people at the Villa, and getting asked for my autograph, but everyone was cool about it really.

‘I enjoyed it.  It was nice to meet someone famous.  When you’re with him, he sounds like an ordinary person. It was fun, but not the career for me.  I want to be a care worker.’

In the documentary, Andy Thorpe talks about the ethos of residential care in East Lothian.  He says:

‘All kids deserve a family environment where they feel safe, where they feel able to trust and be trusted.

‘The key to it all is emotional development – dealing with the pain inside. It’s easy enough to deal with difficult behaviour.  The hard part is getting people to want to change their behaviour.  It’s all about healing.

‘I always say “you never leave the Villa”.  Every young person who has ever lived here has access to us.  Some always keep in touch, some never, and some get in touch years later.’

Staff at the Villa do this in a variety of ways.  Last December, the Villa set up its own private Facebook page for former residents.  It now has about 50 members. Andy Thorpe says it’s been a great idea.  Members use it as a cross between a family album and Friends Re-united. Lots care-leavers don’t have a lot of tangible memories, but the Villa makes sure that residents have lots of photos to share and remind them of their ‘Villa’ family.  Members chat with each other and staff online too.

The Villa also runs a Monday-night football session, the ‘Unconditional Football Hour’, at Musselburgh Sports Centre for any resident or ex-resident who wants to take part.  There’s a real age mix, from keen teens to people in their mid and late thirties.  Apart from the pursuit of sporting glory, this hour is important for catching up and for fun.

The Villa also helps its leavers to bring up their own families.  They look on the second generation almost as grandkids.  For some families, they will offer to look after the ‘grandkids’ for an hour or two, the way any caring parent would.  Lots of others drop in with their kids for a chat or advice.

The Villa offers lots of ongoing support to leavers, ranging from house decorating and laundry to food parcels and tiding people over with their rent.  Andy Thorpe explains, ‘All of here do the same for Lothian Villa kids as we would do for our own families. It’s not just a job.  They are family.’

In last night’s programme, Neil Morrissey says:

‘There is genuine love demonstrated from the staff and reciprocated by the kids ...It is really good. 

‘The commitment of staff at Lothian Villa is obvious and inspiring.  I hope there are other places like this ... This is a good lesson to other places about how to go about this.’
You can view the programmes on BBC iPlayer as soon as they have been aired.
If viewers have any concerns about the care they or relatives have received in the past from East Lothian Council, please call 01620 827 199.