Stories from Go Beyond

They say “home is where the heart is”. It’s being surrounded by family, a place to gather around the dinner table, or cosy up by the fire before snuggling up in bed with a bedtime story. For many of us our childhood home provides the backdrop for happy memories. For 10-year-old Grace* this sadly is not her reality.

For Grace, home was a place of turbulence and darkness. A victim of domestic violence and neglect, Grace has suffered the effects of her parents’ mental health issues, resulting in a life of instability and heartbreak. Outside of the home, at school, there was still no relief for Grace as she didn’t have many friends and was subject to cruel bullying. Grace’s teacher recognised that she needed space away from everything she was dealing with and thankfully referred Grace to Go Beyond for a break.

When Grace arrived, she was very quiet compared to some of the more lively members of the group. Luckily for Grace, these children were empathetic towards her shyness and took it as an opportunity to help her out of her shell. One of the older girls adopted a big sister role, taking Grace under her wing and encouraging her to join in with the activities.

Uplifted by the support of her peers and a wonderful team of Break Leaders and volunteers, Grace’s confidence improved hugely during her time at Go Beyond. On one day, the group went ice-skating: Grace had never been ice-skating before, and was nervous as she approached the rink. Initially she clung onto the edge for dear life but as the sessions went on she both literally and metaphorically found her feet. Soon enough, she was gliding on the ice hand in hand with the adults and laughing with joy.

Across the week, Grace also got to enjoy baking, soft archery, arts and crafts, rock climbing, swimming and more! Our centre provided the safe haven she had not previously known, where she would receive delicious homecooked meals every night, where there were wide open spaces to run free in the daytime, and quiet calming spaces to relax in at nighttime.

When asked what her best bit of the week was, Grace took a moment to answer as she reflected on all of the wonderful things she has experienced. Finally she said:

“I don’t have many friends at school… but I’ve made lots of friends here”

For Grace, Go Beyond was more than just a break; it was vital newfound friendships, freedom from adversity, and hope. When given a chance to shine, Grace showed herself to be courageous and determines, capable of overcoming challenges and facing her fears.

*Names and some details have been changed to protect the children

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 and he often arrived hungry leading to concerns about the family’s financial situation.

Isaac’s teachers believed her 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’s 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 the children

Life has never been easy for Lola*. Since birth she has experienced domestic violence and neglect, resulting in a turbulent childhood for her and her siblings, in and out of foster care. As if things weren’t already difficult enough, in the last year Lola suffered a bereavement in the family. 

It is understandable, therefore, that when Lola arrived at Go Beyond she was an angry and hurting little girl. Lola did not integrate with the rest of the group, and her default response was to be very defensive. That was until a conversation with one of the break leaders… 

“We showed her she was cared for, and gave her space to be herself” – A Break Leader 

Lola felt she was being listened to, without judgement, and slowly but surely let her walls down, showing the sweet and kind-hearted girl she is inside. Huddled around the fire pit, sharing the excitement of toasting marshmallows, stargazing, and playing games, Lola began to make friends. 

As Lola’s confidence and self-esteem grew, her natural leadership skills began to shine through too. She jumped at the opportunity to help in the kitchen. She helped with the food prep and put forward ideas for the meal ,expressing that it was her dream to become a professional chef one day.  

Thanks to a week of emotional and physical freedom from the challenges she faces at home, and encouragement from a fantastic support network of adults and peers, for the first time Lola was able to find something invaluable – hope. The lessons she learned and memories she made will last Lola a lifetime.

*Names and some details have been changed to protect the children

Sophie* is only 9 years old, but she has known a lot of hardship in her young life. Substance abuse and mental health issues in the home have torn through the stability of her family life and left Sophie unsettled and uncertain about the future. Sophie sometimes has to stay with family members, but this does not truly offer her the space she needs to escape her struggles and process everything. At school, Sophie often lashes out when it all simply becomes too much, and it is hard for her to open up to adults. Sophie’s teachers knew that if anything could bring a ray of sunshine into her life, it would be time away at Go Beyond. 

Despite her excitement to attend her break, Sophie was tearful on the first night and struggled to settle. However, the Break Leaders, and a cuddly companion which she had chosen on her arrival at the Centre, were on hand to comfort and support her Sophie was able to express herself in a safe space, and the adults were impressed with the maturity with which she discussed ‘big feelings’ she was dealing with. She explained her anxieties about being away from her Dad, and confessed she was nervous about not knowing any other children on the break. After talking things through, it was as if a weight was lifted off of Sophie’s shoulders…

From this point onwards, Sophie’s worries melted away. The Break Leaders described her as ‘ a bundle of joy, and loved seeing her come out of her shell as her personality began to shine through. This affection for Sophie was clearly shared by her peers, and Sophie made some really strong friendships across the week.

Consistently, Sophie seemed to be at her happiest when spending time in nature. Her passion for the world around her was evident on a woodland walk where she eagerly asked lots of questions about the plants and wildlife. Sophie’s eyes lit up in amazement when a volunteer pointed out dragonfly eggs on a branch and she learnt about the insect’s life cycle. It was an idyllic scene and she and her friends splashed in the stream, squeals of delight joining the bird song echoing through the trees.

The highlight of Sophie’s week, however, was her first ever trip to the beach. It was a perfect afternoon, the sea sparkling and the sand warm beneath her toes. Sophie explored rock pools, and collected shells to adorn the most magnificent sand castle – which she imagined would make a fine home for a crab. Sophie also got to fly a kite for the first time and she ran and ran as the colourful material soared above her. This was freedom like she had never known, a moment in time where adversity seemed a world away.

Sophie’s progress across the week was stratospheric. She had learnt to regulate her emotions, trust adults, found companionship, and built confidence. Perhaps most importantly, she was able to experience the childhood she had always deserved. Before she left, the Break Leaders gave Sophie two kites to take home, one for her and one for her Dad. For Sophie, this gift represented more than just a new toy, but offered the invaluable opportunity to continue making more happy memories at home. She was so grateful and couldn’t wait to share this joy with her Dad, knowing he would be so proud of her new skills. We hope every time Sophie flies her kite and thinks of her break, she will be reminded that she can go beyond anything that stands between her and the brightest future imaginable.

*Names and some details have been changed to protect the children

At just 9-years-old, Priya* has had to grow up very quickly. Priya’s family arrived in the UK as refugees, having fled a life-threatening war in the country they knew and loved. This is enough adversity for one lifetime, but sadly their struggles were not over. Priya’s family have been victims of hate crime, resulting in police involvement. Because Priya’s parents cannot speak English, Priya often acts as their translator, meaning she has heard some things no child should have to.

At Go Beyond, Priya was welcomed with open arms into a safe space where she would receive some much needed respite. When she first arrived, Priya was shy and understandably apprehensive about integrating with the other children. But she soon came out of her shell, suprising everyone with her inner strength.

At the rock climbing centre, Priya strapped herself into her harness and began to scale the wall. Climbing higher and higher, she bravely tackled the activity with quiet determination. She surprised even herself when she reached the last hold at the very top of the wall, turning round to see all of her peers and the Break Leaders applauding her and cheering. A huge beaming smile swept across her face, and this moment encouraged Priya to face the rest of the week with more self-confidence.

Priya was never going to be as loud and boisterous as some other members of the group, but her polite and kind nature saw her awarded Star of the Day many times by her new friends. Everyone was amazed by the calm approach she took to any activity, from making the world’s longest paper chain during arts and crafts, to whizzing down even the biggest slides at the waterpark.

At the end of the week, Priya got to exchange her Go Beyond bucks (which the children are rewarded with for displaying our values across the week) for some treats from the toy cupboard. Since her family fled to the UK, Priya has not had much to call her own, and toys are a luxury. As the door opened, Priya’s eyes lit up as she took in the myriad of games, accessories, teddy bears and more. Priya’s choice was a small pot of slime for herself and a big cuddly cat. When asked what she was going to call it Priya said, “I’ll let my baby brother decide. I’m giving it to him.” For a child who has so little, Priya’s selflessness in this moment was truly inspiring.

At Go Beyond, Priya got to experience the childhood she had always deserved. Surrounded by a supportive group of adults and peers, Priya was seen and celebrated for being the amazing and capable little girl she is. No child should be defined by inequality, tragedy or instability and we hope that Priya has left her break knowing she can achieve anything in her future.

*Names and some details have been changed to protect the children