Isaac* is 8 years old, and already he has dealt with so much in life. Things quickly fell apart for Isaac when his Daddy became poorly, which was hard for Isaac to witness. Eventually, the family broke down, and Isaac‘s mental health broke down with it. His teachers noticed him becoming quiet and withdrawn at school.
Isaac’s teachers believed he would benefit from time away in a place where he could make friends, enjoy warm meals every day, and have positive distractions from what he faced at home. That is where Go Beyond came in.
When Isaac arrived on the Monday, the Break Leaders noticed that he was apprehensive and preoccupied. They were aware that Isaac had never stayed away from home before, so focused on making him feel comfortable. When Isaac got upset before bed, he got lots of support from his new friends and special comforting cuddles from Barnaby the giant teddy bear.
It was, therefore, a massive achievement for Isaac to push through his worries and stay for the whole week. After overcoming this milestone, there was no stopping Isaac’s continuous growth in confidence for the rest of the break. Every day, Isaac got stuck into the activities with enthusiasm.
Isaac’s favourite part of the week was whizzing down water slides and splashing into the swimming pool at the local water park, as well as a visit to the animal park where he got to hold exotic animals such as lizards, snakes and birds. Isaac also showed courage at dinner time, willing to try new foods and ending up going back for seconds! The Break Leaders loved seeing Isaac relax and flourish, noticing all of his personal achievements and making sure to highlight them during ‘stars of the day’.
Isaac now knows he can leave his comfort zone and achieve more than he ever thought possible, using his new found bravery to face whatever the future holds.
*names and some details have been changed to protect identities
Can you give more children like Isaac a week of freedom and joy?
There are many children who still need our support. Could you donate and help another child like Isaac?
