Wiltshire teens shares transition from care to supported living story
Cora Hall has been in the care system since the age of 7
A Wiltshire teenager is telling us about her transition from full time care to supported living.
19-year-old Cora Hall first moved into care at the age of 7 with a foster family, but is now a college student with her sights set on becoming a paramedic.
She says her foster family made "Christmases feel like Christmas" and that "there was a warm fireplace in my heart".
Reflecting on her time in the care system, Cora said: "Everyone has their challenges growing up the care system, people thought I was going to be set up to fail."
But thanks to her foster family, Cora has come through the system and is now in supported accommodation.
"They tell you you're living by yourself now, but we're here to support you, no matter what," she said. Cora is supported in what she calls "the basics", saying it's a constant learning process.
She said the transition 'hasn't been much of a challenge': "I didn't find it that hard because I had a great support system. The carers used to come and see me, even if it was them, to just sit in my room and chill out."
Cora told us that she doesn't like to use the term "carers" because she's come to see them more as a family, saying they've shown her more respect than she would have got in her life before care, while saying that they're always there to champion the people they're looking after.
"People were there going, go on Cora, you can do this, you've got this, you're ready to go. Anyone could fly through life with support like that," Cora said.
With her goal of becoming a paramedic firmly set, she wants people to know that growing up in care doesn't hold you back.