School success, self-confidence, ambition and getting his laugh back. Those were things which seemed out of reach for Ben* when he first arrived at Wood Grove as a teenager.
The youngster had been in the care system since before he was 10-years-old, having experienced neglect and abuse as well as physical and emotional trauma. He moved to Wood Grove after a foster placement broke down.
His self-confidence was incredibly low. He was dismissive of people and, as the team at Wood Grove described it; “He just hated everyone, he had absolutely no trust in anyone.”
Karen Hancock, the manager at Wood Grove, takes up the story: “Ben was just angry at the world. We couldn’t get him into education. He was very influenced by other young people, was very much a follower, even if that would lead to trouble. And sometimes he would be very depressed. There were some staff he would speak to but others he just wouldn’t engage with at all.
“He was a very guarded young man. The first time I met him, others said he wouldn’t speak to me for six months. Well he did talk, but it was to tell me where to go, very bluntly!”
However, with careful and consistent support, praise and recognition, Ben slowly started to progress, open up and trust more. He realised the staff team were always there for him, all the time. He became very settled and started working with a one-to-one tutor to access education before returning to school. His ability to self-regulate improved dramatically, so even when faced with a difficulty with his estranged family, he was able to understand his feelings, reason, deal with it maturely and move on.
Karen said: “The transformation really was incredible, the difference is just amazing. His confidence grew and grew. He accessed education again and really thrived, getting a Head Master’s award for hard work. He achieved qualifications. He got his laugh back.”
Ben has moved on from Wood Grove and is currently living with a host family who are supporting him to learn those skills for independence he’ll need as he continues to move on through life. He wants to go to college or secure an apprenticeship.
Karen has no doubt he’ll succeed. She said: “He’s very gifted and he’s so much more confident. He’s learned really important skills, including how to have a laugh. And we’re incredibly proud of how far he’s come.”