Noel’s Story
Noel* has a lot of responsibility on his young shoulders, and sometimes it simply proves too heavy to bear. At 9 years old, Noel not only helps care for his father who is poorly, but also provides regular support for his younger siblings when his parents don’t have the capacity. Sadly, this situation is difficult for all involved, and Noel’s siblings often take out their emotions on him, creating a turbulent and stressful home environment.
When Noel arrived at Go Beyond, he was clearly exhausted. His face lit up as he walked into the Centre, but the dark circles under his eyes told the truth of Noel’s fatigue. Noticing he had become withdrawn, one of the Break Leaders gently engaged with him. When asked what he was most looking forward to, Noel replied “A good night’s sleep. I barely get a moments peace at home.”
Luckily for Noel, he had a comfy bed to collapse into at Go Beyond, and he woke up the following morning feeling a little brighter. Outside, the rolling hills of the Peak District were blanketed in snow, creating a magical winter scene. During a trip to Dovedale later that day, it became clear how little exposure Noel had had to new experiences, confined to his house a much of the time. Noel expressed that he does not usually get to spend time in nature:
“I’ve never seen snow before, and I’ve never built a snowman.”
His joy was infectious. As the group climbed to the top of a hill, their whoops of triumph echoed all around. His mood visibly lifted further as he played with his new friends, creating snow angels and throwing himself into a friendly snowball fight – Children 3, Break Leaders nil! By the time they bundled back into the minibus, nothing could take the smile from his face.
Noel’s friendships and confidence continued to blossom across the week. He bonded with the other boys, discovering he wasn’t alone in his caring responsibilities. They also found commonality in their music taste, and encouraged each other during ice skating, bravely leaving the edge of the rink and finding their balance together.
Removed from his responsibilities, Noel began to rediscover the joys of Christmas with renewed childlike wonder. He cheered and booed at the pantomime, toasted marshmallows and sang around the campfire, and filled his tummy with as much Christmas roast as he could manage. By Friday, the Breaks team felt that Noel was almost unrecognisable: the boy who arrived burnt out and deflated had regained colour in his cheeks and couldn’t wait to share the stories of his break with his family.
Noel is a remarkable young person who always puts others first. At Go Beyond, it was his turn to shine. Through rest, renewed self-confidence, and many magical memories, your support of Go Beyond will help make the festive season extra special for more children like Noel this Christmas.
