News article
The Childrens Workshop Making A Difference
A recent survey undertaken in the UK explored the Human Cost of Dyslexia. In it were telling statistics, such as,
- 82% of children with dyslexia try to hide their struggles,
- 95% get frustrated because of their dyslexia, and
- 84% suffer from anxiety related to their dyslexia.
It puts data around what we had seen from the work we do. Out of these observations we developed Growing Stars.
We have been running the Growing Stars programme for two years now and in that time we have refined it to meet the needs of the families who use it. We receive excellent feedback that it helps the children and their families.
What is it?
It’s a workshop to help children aged 6 -12 years understand and manage the emotional impact of living with a learning difference. However, the children who attend do not have to be assessed as dyslexic, dyspraxia or any other learning difficulty. The workshop is based on helping those who struggle with their learning at school. Using a variety of craft based activities we help the children understand that learning differently is okay and if learning is hard and makes their “brain go offline” what they can do about getting it back on line.
We want the children to know they are okay – yes some things are harder and will take them more time but they can do it.
We equip the children with techniques and strategies to manage their anxiety and frustrations. However, the most powerful feedback we get is that the children realise they are not alone.
The whole workshop has been geared to support those who learn differently. Usually at the start the children are very nervous, but by the second day they can’t wait to come back and would like it to go longer!
How it works?
We have two facilitators plus helpers to support all the children on the workshop. The workshops currently are run in the school holidays. There is a compulsory parent workshop as well and this is to help transfer what the children learn into their home life. Parents in the past have found these workshops very helpful for their own understanding of learning differences and knowing that they too are not alone.
Community support making a difference
The fee per child for the workshop is $50. We have deliberately aimed to keep the fee low to help make what we offer more accessible to a wider range of people. This is heavily subsidised by our local community funders ILT and ILT Foundation. We could not run these workshops without their support as the workshop for each child actually costs $390. However, for some the $50 can still be a barrier. If you would like to sponsor a place or child on Growing Stars you can do this at our Give a Little page.
Future plans
From feedback we have received we are starting up a parent group from those who have attended the Growing Stars workshops starting in 2020. This will be an informal get together for parents to meet and discuss with others who understand.
January 2020 workshop dates
Children’s workshop: Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd January 2020
The parent workshop will be 21st January 2020
To register contact Chris at [Enable JavaScript to view protected content].
Please note your place is only confirmed on receipt of the workshop fee.
Posted: 6 November 2019