I live in an awful area, there was a shooting today and can't get out!

[NoCoco]

I live in S E London and it really is an awful area. I can't get out and feel trapped.
I'm in a low paid job, single mum. The house I live in is owned by a family member who very kindly let's me live here for free, they are very wealthy and the house was left to them by a family member.
I'm so grateful but I would love to move to a safer area. There was a shooting here at the end of my road today. I'm so worried about my kids and am a nervous wreck. I can't afford to privately rent, no chance of a mortgage and council lists are crazy.
I just feel so trapped. Does anyone else hate where they live?

You live very close to me. We're 'up the hill' so a little away from it but it is so draining to go down the high street and see people who are high strewn about, people getting into fights with security guards because they were caught shop lifting etc. I worry about my kids a bit and it's changed where we go out and about. We could easily leave but I've heard from friends in other parts of the country of similar goings on too.

I don't have any suggestions as I know it's not as simple as just moving. Do you know many of your neighbours?

Catford fits this description.

OP I really feel for you. I absolutely hate our area. It is full of people I don't want my DC to associate with.

It feels like the set of Shameless and gets me down sometimes.

I don't think people who don't live in rough areas realise how it can impact your mental health on a daily basis.

I can almost guarantee that the victims and perpetrators of the stabbings and shootings in London will be English, not immigrants.

@ForFirmBiscuit I was born here. Adopted by white English parents at birth but my birth parents were foreign (white, European). Am I English?

People describing London as a ‘ghetto’ or a ‘war zone’ need to take a look at what’s happening elsewhere in the world and get a grip.

You have my sympathies OP. We're on the edge of London- we're in a bit of Surrey where the borders blur with tfl etc. I love it here in many ways but it's started here too. We've had a spate of attacks and stabbings. A gang of lads has started causing bother in broad daylight. We are starting to prepare to leave the area.

I hope you find a solution. Some of the positions in The Lady could be a really good idea.

It's boys and men. Overwhelmingly boys and men. So entitled.

I mean you get girl's and women that are deeply unpleasant and aggressive but there's not packs of them in balaclavas trying to stab and shoot each other all over the country.

Can you increase your hours? Get a full time job to help you save? X