Teens and Toddlers made me feel more confident and happier. I still use the techniques from the programme in my life.
“In school, I was lonely. I didn’t really have anyone or get on with anyone. I was never in lessons.”
“When I first joined Teens and Toddlers, I was scared because it was out of my comfort zone, but after the first session I knew there was nothing to be scared of. My Programme Lead was understanding, and she helped me out a lot by just talking to me. She really took the time to listen.”
“Even though I was never motivated to do work in school, I managed to complete a whole booklet on the programme which was nice.”
“I always made sure that I was good in school so that I was allowed to go to Teens and Toddlers. After the sessions, I’d always come out of school in a good mood.”
Although Beth made progress on the programme, there were times she struggled to express herself, leading to frustration and arguments with peers.
“One time there was a situation where I was arguing with one of my peers before Teens and Toddlers. To calm us down, our Programme Leads us told to write down three things we liked about each other. I didn’t want to write anything but I did it in the end. It was awkward at first but then it was better – and we made up.”
During the programme, Beth was paired with a toddler named Yasmin. When Beth was with Yasmin, she didn’t have to worry about judgment or negative opinions—they simply enjoyed each other’s company.
Yasmin’s positive energy helped Beth lower her guard and empowered her. Throughout their time together, Beth became more open and trusting of others.
“Before Teens and Toddlers, I felt lost, like I didn’t fit in and wasn’t good at anything.”
“Yasmin was quite shy, so I knew I needed to be patient with her. When she finally spoke to me, for the first time in my life I felt like I had achieved something. I was proud of myself.”
“One of my most cherished memories is when Yasmin and I made handprints together. It felt like we bonded and playing with Yasmin always helped me to have fun. I still have my handprints, and I hope she kept hers too – they’re so cute.”
Everything Beth learnt on Teens and Toddlers not only helped her continue to manage her emotions but also gave her a desire to build a career helping people to improve their mental health.
“I still use the techniques from the programme in my life. Teens and Toddlers made me feel more confident and happier. Now I’d like to work as a mental health nurse because I feel like we need more people who have been through it and understand it.”
