IMAGINE living hand to mouth in an abandoned car or trying to break away from constant beatings — totally alone with no money.
It doesn't tally with the cream tea image of West Devon does it?
Yet under our noses there are youngsters living like this through no fault of their own below even the first rung of society's ladder.
They are care leavers, young people who have slipped from the social net. Lots cope with more emotional baggage than many from a 'normal' background could bear.
They may be institutionalised from a life in care. They may have mental problems, been beaten or sexually abused — and after whatever schooling they had, what do they do, where do they go?
But a tiny Tavistock-based charity is beginning to make a difference to these people — a difference that has caught national attention.
Genesis Outreach was formed in 1995, after the closure of Kilworthy School, with seed-funding from a large national charity.
It is a support network for those failed by fostering, adoption and the care system.
'People look at our area and think it's all so great, but don't realise what hardship there is in the winter when you've only got an old car to sleep in, or you are in somebody's shed and you're worried the farmer's going to find you,' said Catherine Gundry, chairman of Genesis.
These youngsters face rejection in obvious and more obscure ways.
Face it — would you choose to sit next to a teenager on the bus who has two black eyes, filthy hair and equally filthy clothes? Probably not, but if you live in a shed with no water, no change of clothes, no job and no money, where do you start?
This is the circle of deprivation and rejection that Genesis is trying to break.
'We had one lad who from a little boy to 16 years of age had 52 placements — all he knew about adults was that they turf you out. You can see why they accept rejection,' said Catherine.
'Our business is to keep them off the streets, out of prison and keep them helping each other.'
Catherine said Genesis is 'fairly unique' in that it is 'user-led'.
'It is very much influenced by the young people themselves. Because of the trust we have built up with them, they let other young people who are in trouble know about us.'
She describes a 'bright and intelligent' youngster who ran away to Plymouth, fell into a downward spiral involving violent pimps and was left virtually at death's door.
The girl is now off the streets, living in a house and attending hospital appointments regularly. She has found a training course and is reconciled with her family.
'We have another girl in her early twenties, a local care leaver who was in with a group of people who have been sexually abusing her.
'These youngsters are allowed to leave care without anything being sorted out for them,' Catherine explained.
'For these people when they make mistakes there's no mum or dad to bail them out or to go home to when they're feeling low.
'One young man was being constantly beaten up — he would spend all his time on the bus because it was the only place he felt safe. What sort of life is that for a 20-year-old?'
She said one young girl had problems with flooding in her flat — the landlord tried to bully her into paying for the damage.
'You can't believe how somebody could be so crushed — seeing her all crumpled up and not able to assert herself was terrible,' said Catherine.
With Genesis' help, the young woman is now contributing to her neighbourhood and helping other people.
Genesis has about 40 adults and 50 children on its books, all helped on a shoestring budget.
Because care leavers themselves give the charity advice, no money is wasted and help is given in the simplest and most direct way. One young lad was consistently picked on and beaten up because of his size — Genesis kept him in a constant supply of T-shirts.
'The number of people we have been able to help on our money has been phenomenal — it probably costs us about £10 a week to help a whole family, because we don't give them help they don't need, ' said Catherine.
The care leavers let Genesis' trustees know if they are making the wrong decisions, so funds can be saved for another project — one trustee is a care leaver herself.
'They are more knowledgeable, more realistic about each other — it means every little penny we have is put to good use,' said Catherine.
Using this simple philosophy, Genesis has bought an old caravan which is housed on a site within a short distance which can be used by care leavers for short breaks.
'Our project manager is doing amazing work in teaching them how to manage money. We have been astounded how good the repayments have been — nine out of ten of the young people we have helped have paid every penny.'
Genesis has built close links with social services, local housing agencies and the police. It can provide valuable background information to ensure people are helped in the most appropriate way.
'The exciting thing is the care leavers are so willing to help each other, they understand each other,' said Catherine.
'I have been humbled by their courage and their willingness to keep trying.
'I have been to visit some and known there is only a packet of biscuits in the house to eat — literally — but you are still offered one.
'Most of us don't realise just how easy it is to fall into the poverty trap, but it is so, so, hard to climb out.'
The work done by Genesis from a tiny office in the basement of Tavistock Town Council offices is in line with the Government's new policy, Quality Protects — Catherine is optimistic Genesis will become a leader for the South West in this field.
'We are providing an example to people all over the country — although we are a little project we are actually showing people how to do things in a very cost-effective way.'
This will hopefully mean further funding. In the meantime, Genesis would desperately like to hear from more volunteers and trustees to take their work forward.
'Ideally we would like bigger premises so we could also run a drop-in centre,' said Catherine.
Breaking the circle of rejection, deprivation and poverty is possible — eventually.
'I think the more we listen to children and value people, the more we try to work towards an inclusive society, the more pain we will ease and the more chance there will be to stop the rot.'
l Anyone interested in helping Genesis, or who feels in need of their help, should call 01822 614295.