9-year-old Alice* has already faced some difficult challenges in her young life, including being diagnosed with ADHD and ADD. At school, she often feels overwhelmed by the busy environment, finding it hard to control her emotions. Sadly, her struggles with a mainstream school routine led to an exclusion.
Despite these hurdles, Alice has big dreams of being a pilot one day and has hopes of a brighter future. Alice’s teachers recognised that she desperately needed somewhere that she could safely express herself and learn to regulate her feelings. This is where Go Beyond came in.
When Alice arrived on Monday, the Break Leaders noticed how her bright personality and charm quickly made her new friends. Yet, it was also clear that Alice found it hard to interact with other children, often becoming quickly irritated and overwhelmed.
However, as the week progressed, Alice showed remarkable growth. Engaged in activities like rock climbing, she began to overcome her fears, bolstered by the encouragement of her new friends and the guidance of our Break Leaders. Once she found her feet, Alice was not only participating, but thriving in group activities.
A defining moment came when Alice was quick to resolve a situation where she would have struggled in the past. After another young person tried playing roughly with Alice, she initially retaliated angrily at our team when they tried to help. After a moment of reflection, Alice hugged and apologised to the Break Leader. This moment marked a significant personal breakthrough, showcasing her growth in emotional regulation.
Unlike a busy school environment, Go Beyond provided Alice with the one-to-one support and attentiveness that she truly needed. Our Break Leaders gave her the space to grow in confidence and learn to manage her emotions. Alice left Go Beyond not just with memories of fun and friendship but with a reinforced belief in her potential and a brighter outlook on her future.
For Alice, her week at Go Beyond was transformative, helping her learn how to interact and connect with others positively. Given the chance to engage in new opportunities, Alice proved to be funny, brave and a joy to have on a Go Beyond break. We hope that Alice is extremely proud of herself, and that she takes the skills and confidence she gained with her long into the future.
*Names and some details have been changed to protect the children
