Voyagers

It’s been a productive term for our activities-based mentoring, which we have been running for children in both upper and lower Key Stage 2. Our newest programme is called Voyagers and has been specially designed to help children settle back into school after the challenges of this year. Our first session ‘Story Houses’ involves making pop-up house books, which allow each child to creatively document their experiences of lockdown and the time spent in their home earlier this year. Another session ‘Chameleons’ looks at identifying anxiety and opening up conversations surrounding emotions.

The children have engaged with the activities as enthusiastically as ever, and it’s been great to see them share more and more of their personality and thoughts each week. The feedback has been very positive from learning mentors and from the children themselves. Last week one of our boys said ‘Can we do this forever?’ ! Our volunteers have been absolutely key in getting to know the new children, setting a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, and leading small sections of the session. One of our volunteers is hoping to become an educational psychologist in the future and has told us how delighted she is to have found a volunteering opportunity where she can work with children in a therapeutic setting. We’re looking forward to next term already. Happy hols everyone!