Chris's life has changed, his confidence has grown and he has made some real friends since participating in our Enterprise Camp.
Chris is on the Autistic spectrum, he has significant struggles when it comes to social interaction and being understood. He exhibits many repetitive behaviors and is prone to outbursts of excitement when something sparks his interest. Unsurprisingly, therefore, when he was referred by his coach at Rush House to join one of our Taster Days in Rotherham, his attitude was one of caution.
At first he found it difficult to engage with the rest of the group but with help and support from both staff and the other young people participating, Chris was able to take part in the planned activities and he began to talk more about himself and his interests.
After speaking with Chris's parents we learned that he had never been away from home before and since leaving college he had a very limited social circle. The Groundwork South Yorkshire team thought that he could really benefit from taking part in the Enterprise Camp but we keen to be as informed as possible as to really help him move forward and make him comfortable during his time with us.
During Camp, Chris quickly forged close relationships with the team. His keen mind and fantastic memory were invaluable during both activities and workshops. Despite his fear of water, including rain, Chris became so engrossed in his activities that not only did he stay outside in all weathers, but he also made it into a canoe on the lake! The Enterprise Team worked closely with Chris but he was also given enough space so that he could push himself. He joined in all of the activities and amazed both himself, his parents and staff - he even won the Camp aware for determination.
The Camp's 'Challenge Week' was based around t-shirt printing, Chris took parting in planning, interviewing focus groups, creating designs and presenting to a Dragon's Den style panel. The skills and relationships that Chris had learned and formed from his time on camp really came into play and he was a valued member of the team.
Chris's parents have noticed a real change in him, his confidence has grown and he has made some real friends. Furthermore, Chris along with a team of other young people from the Camp have continued to pursue their t-shirt design business and are working with Groundwork SY to make this a reality.
For more information on our Enterprise Camp and Talent Match visit our Enterprise page.
