A mother who grew up in a care home has called on residents not to judge the children who may become their new neighbours.

Residents of Grace Avenue in Allington are worried by a change-of-use application from My Tribe Homes Ltd that would permit a semi-detached house in the street to be used as a children’s home for four youngsters, aged between five and 17.

Thirty-four letters of objection have been filed with Maidstone council, many fearing the children would be disruptive, despite having two staff members permanently on duty.

But Heidi Hodges said residents were wrong to “pre-judge” the youngsters who "are not in this situation by choice".

She said: “I was brought up in a care home and it was a wonderful place. The children were not naughty or delinquent, and I’m sure there were never any complaints from the neighbours about our behaviour.

“The Grace Avenue residents are leaping to conclusions and should not worry.”

Mrs Hodges said that tragedy first struck her family more than 40 years ago when they were living in Senacre in Maidstone.

In 1984, her father, John Hodges, took his own life in Mote Park. Seven months later her mother died from motor neurone disease. Heidi and her brother Simon became orphans aged just 11 and nine respectively.

She said: “We went to live with my grandparents for a little while, but they couldn’t cope and soon we were placed in care through KCC social services.”

The children found themselves at Allenby House in St Leonard’s Road in Deal. Fortunately, they were homed together.

She said: “We were devasted at first. The only place we had ever known was Maidstone. Not only had we lost our parents, but now we were ripped away from all our friends.

“It was heartbreaking. No-one ever came to see us.”

But they soon came to appreciate their new home. She said: ”It was wonderful. The staff were so caring.

“At one point there were 14 kids there.

“Of course, there were rules you had to follow, and curfews, but there was never any trouble. I made some lasting friends there that I still have today.”

She said: “All the children had suffered in one way or another and all had difficulties to get through, but they weren’t delinquents.

“I look back at my time there with fondness.”

Mrs Hodges left the home at 16 and returned to Maidstone where she married and had three children of her own.

She worked as a nurse – a theatre assistant – at Maidstone Hospital.

Her brother stayed at the home until he was 18. But just a year later he was knocked down and killed while crossing the A249 after getting off a bus.

Mrs Hodges said: “I lived in Allington, at Sycamore Crescent off Poplar Grove, and I know Grace Avenue well.

“It would be a lovely place for the children in care to grow up.”

Mr Hodges, now 51 and since 2002 living in Folkestone, urged Grace Avenue residents to think again.

She said: “The care home would be no different from a large family moving into the house. I’m incensed that they should turn against these youngsters just because they have experienced some kind of tragedy in their lives.

“Their situation is not their choice. They should not be vilified before they even move in.”

“Grace Avenue residents should realise that how these children grow up will not be just determined by the care they receive from the staff, but also by how they are treated by the community.

“There are more important things to consider than house prices.”

Ravi Sharma is the founder and director of applicant My Tribe Homes.

The company already operates two children’s homes in Maidstone – one at Charles Street and one at Florence Road.

He said: “I understand the concerns of neighbours in relation to children’s homes.

“Unfortunately, there are pervasive negative stereotypes against looked-after children.

“Much of this is borne from a fundamental lack of understanding and it doesn’t help when alarmist, inaccurate flyers are circulated, as has been the case in Grace Avenue.

“Ultimately, looked-after children are children who happen to have had a rough start to life.

“However, within a loving and safe environment, they can absolutely thrive.

“There can be isolated occasions of noise etc, but these are few and far between, not dissimilar to that caused by any children, and the impact on neighbours will be minimal.”

Find out about planning applications and other public notices in your area by visiting PublicNoticePortal.uk

For details of the My Tribe Homes proposal, visit the council website here.

Look for application number 23/505260.