Isaac's Story
Background:
Isaac first came to the Creative Youth Network via a referral to the Arts For Life Programme made by his school’s SENCO.
Key issues:
Isaac was experiencing difficulties in socialisation, behavior management and as a result was falling behind his peers in class.
What happened at CYN:
The Arts For Life team met with Isaac to talk through his experiences and helped him to develop personal targets, ensuring he had the tools to achieve them. Isaac initially came on the Arts For Life programme for a 10 week course in the Autumn term of 2010. He developed a range of skills and began to make real progress with socialisation. He still struggled with his behavior management and so CYN staff created a behavior plan for him to help him identify strategies in order to help him manage his own difficulties. Isaac did so well on the course and personal development programme and saw his hard work rewarded with significant results. His school were so impressed with his progress that they continued to refer him to CYN for another four terms right up to his GCSE’s.
Key outcomes:
Working with the close support that the Arts For Life staff offer, Isaac was able to start understanding and controlling his own emotions and as a result his social interactions improved assisting him in making and maintaining good friendships.
Isaac completed four Arts For Life terms and not only achieved personal milestones but also received the ASDAN Expressive Arts Award and 3 modules as part of the OCN Step-up award.
Isaac is now able to motivate himself and engage in creative and fulfilling activities with others he has matured and is able to connect more fully into social and school life. Isaac’s home life has also improved since completing his Arts For Life experience and his dad told us “My son has thoroughly enjoyed his time with Art for Life - he only wishes he could return. That is in part testament to the enthusiasm and dedication shown by the tutors…”. Despite his time on Arts For Life coming to an end Isaac is hoping to join the urban Academy Graffiti class to continue developing his creative and social skills
The future:
Isaac is on track to complete his GCSE’s this year and is aiming to continue studying at college next year.
