“Being ‘bad’ is the only thing I’m known for. I thought I couldn’t make the change, I didn’t think I could do it."
In May 2018, Khulisa received a referral from one of our partner schools in about a 12-year old student who was described as “aggressive, violent and confrontational”.
In her hometown of Rusholme in Manchester, Lucy had developed a reputation as a trouble maker: she had been excluded from various schools and following a series of violent outbursts and threatening behaviour towards her fellow pupils, she was now facing a permanent exclusion. Lucy is one of many children in Manchester facing such a fate, the city has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the country and the rate of school exclusions is twice the national average.
Khulisa’s team arranged an assessment for Lucy during which the therapist could glean Lucy’s readiness to partake in our programme, her awareness of her behavioural issues and any underlying mental health needs. Along with 11 other students at the school, Lucy began the group programme on 11th June.
Lucy responded brilliantly to the group programme, she openly shared her fears about how gun crime and gang violence was affecting her community and her family. She talked honestly about her lack of hope for her future and her fears that she would follow a similar path to her siblings who had become involved in selling drugs.
After successfully completing the full programme in July 2018, she shared some reflections
on her experience:
"When I stepped into Khulisa, I stepped into a good path. Since doing the programme, I feel very calm and determined to do good. I also think before I act. The programme helped me to talk about my feelings and gave me a safe space to help me deal with my anger. I don’t yell anymore, I have a different strategy now, I am using the things I learned to help me. I am going after being a prefect. I want to show other kids like me not to always think about the worst of yourself, that you can be a nice person."
Lucy will be starting school again in September with the Khulisa team on hand to help her should she need the extra support. The school are happy to see Lucy feeling optimistic and motivated to focus on her work and get the grades they know she is capable of. Like many children in her situation, Lucy has a long way to go on her journey to managing her emotional wellbeing but she’s taken the first important steps to building the life she deserves rather than the life she thought was inevitable.
Khulisa – meaning to nurture in Zulu – believe in the potential of all young people and is
committed to providing a safe, nurturing environment for children like Lucy, helping them to
thrive and flourish.
*Please note that names and images have been changed used to keep the young person’s identity anonymous.