Teresa Cooper
Contrary to what some think, I am not famous here in the UK, I am not rich and I am not an Essex girl either. OK I used to be but moved the end of last year. I reckon it was because I got bored of the Essex girl jokes. Now im getting all the Bob the builder jokes because I have been doing some right bodge jobs with my DIY skills and this new house has more problems than the last one.
I certainly dont need to wait for bad weather and climate change to flood me out, this house is doing a good job of that on its own.. I am not a member of any organisation and any links here are for information purposes only.
Please buy Pin Down and expose the ugliness of child abuse in the care system where child abuse is rife and sadly ignored. Children who go into the care system need protection and shouldnt be there to be abused even further by one of the most uncaring systems
I am nothing out of the ordinary as a mother despite my experiences growing up. If anything I find myself working harder to make sure I get it right for my children and for myself and so far with success. I must mention my 13 cats (two are missing) as they are also a huge part of my life as are my my two dogs and budgie.
I am currently involved in exciting projects including lecturing at a London University to trainee social workers, social workers; police which was very rewarding until my second lecture with six trained social workers two of whom were from Wandsworth. I left there horrified at the harsh treatment I received by the two Wandsworth social workers and three of the others who not only practically sent me to coventry, pushed me out of the way when leaving the room but then went on to be awfully behaved after leaving the room. I have yet to find out their names as their behaviour was shocking, bullying and shows why child abuse is rife in the care system and why it is ignored. They should be sacked because that's no way to behave.
I love writing although I tend to life write which is how I say and think it and not written as you would see in book form. Writing a book takes alot of work, support and help especially given the subject. Writing a book in the genre is not something I recommend anyone doing the way I done it and that's just wake up one day and realise you need to get your book out there as I hadn't even written it when it was sold. I also knew from my own experience that when contacting authors of this genre for advice I didn't get any replies at all which was very disheartening . I couldn't be the only survivor who has probably tried this method.
I set up no2abuse and the forum so that there was a place for survivors to go because reading my book would open up old wounds for survivors and I felt it was my responsibility to be there and share the problems with them. They say a problem shared is a problem halved. I tend to agree. I also feel self help is very important and I know I am not perfect but I did self help and have spent years supporting others. There are no set rules to surviving, no survivor survives the same way and you live and learn as you go along and learn about yourself along the way.
Trust No One is the new paperback version of Pin Down the hardback version of my biography
Available in book stores and Amazon
After many years fighting for what was right the system failed me not only as a child but also as an adult in my quest for answers. I have been researching into my childhood for many years now and found it a long road to walk and now I am ready to share my journey with you.
The writing of Pin Down has not been easy and has taken me on a journey that has given me some sense of peace amongst the chaos of memories that haunted me. Now I have found peace in knowing that I am and have done as much as I can to expose the cruel and inhumane treatment of children in the care system. This book will expose what has been a dark secret for too long.
I was recently asked what was the one thing I remembered the most about Kendall House besides the abuse and it has to be the time they said we were going to put on a play for people to come and watch and we got so excited. "Teresa" your playing the leading role of Joseph" came the voice of one of the staff and I didn't mind playing a man as it was only a play after all. In order to get our privellages of a quick walk we had to do this play. The song they gave me to sing was Close all the doors to me. Lyrics below. I will never forget the words because for us it was describing Kendall House to a T. Several of the girls self mutilated during the process of rehersing and were drugged and feeling very low. They had their wrists bandaged from suicide attempts as you will see in one of the photographs of that play in the Kendall House blog photos.
We done that play and the staff looked on and smiled in sick pleasure because we wanted to cry and one girl ran off the stage as people they had never met sat on those cranky chairs looking on as staff let us know they were watching as they stood tall and let us know they were there. Mr & Mrs Whattler looked on in horror when the words came out of my mouth as I tried to hold back the tears. I could see the pain in her eyes and we were determined not to let the staff beat us so we gave it all we had and then walked off in tears. The girl in the Kendall House photo on the Kendall House section with her wrist clearly bandaged went on to commit suicide at the age of 18 years old. I dedicated my book to her and her real name was Caroline.
Close every door to me
Hide all the world from me
Bar all the windows
and shut out the light
Do what you want with me
Hate me and laugh at me
Darken my daytime
and torture my night
If my life were important
I would ask will I live or die
but I know the answers
lie far from this world
Close every door to me
Keep those I love from me
Children of Israel
are never alone
For I know I shall find
my own peace of mind
for I have been promised
a land of my own
Just give me a number
instead of my name
Forget all about me
and let me decay
I do not matter
I’m only one person
Destroy me completely
then throw me away
If my life were important
I would ask will I live or die
but I know the answers
lie far from this world
Close every door to me
Keep those I love from me
Children of Israel
are never alone
For I know we shall find
our own peace of mind
for we have been promised
a land of our own
(Andrew Lloyd Webber)
To my children = I love you dearly and more than anything else in the world xxxxxxxxx
