Thomas was attacked by parents

Thomas, 22, came to Kids Company when he was 12. He used to sleep with knives under his pillow because he was scared of what might happen to him at night. He has been shot at, kidnapped and tied up.

His mother and stepfather were crack cocaine addicts and would sometimes attack him. Drug dealers would also come into the home and attack him. When he came to Kids Company he hadn't been to school for years.

He found it impossible to sit next to people, and
when he did he would shake. They began working with him by getting him to recognise when he was feeling tense.

He started doing intense exercise to ease this. Over a period of time he started letting people sit next to him. At the age of 18, he produced the drawing, right, to represent his shattered childhood. Only this year he managed to go to college.

Before he was unable to do so because
he was so paranoid about being around large crowds. He can now interact with people socially and enjoys reading books.