News
Children Get 'Stuck' In31 Oct 2006 |
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| Masks and kites were just some of the creations produced by a group of disadvantaged youngsters during a half-term holiday at Toc H's Alison House Hotel in Cromford, Derbyshire this week. Led by rural arts specialist Rick and supervised by Toc H staff and volunteers, the group of eight teenagers, all from the Cheshire area, literally got ‘stuck-in' with glue and sticking tape to create an array of master pieces. Kelly aged 16, who lives in a local authority care home, was so delighted with her life-sized, half man half women model named ‘Shim' that she plans to give it a permanent home in her bedroom. “We started off making the arms, but one was much bigger like a man's and the other thinner like a women's so we thought – why not have both!” Like Kelly, several of the young people who were given the opportunity to join the holiday have been part of Toc H's Youth Mentoring scheme. “Being mentored has really helped me,” said Kelly. “My mentor would collect me and we often went to different places. It gave me someone to talk to and help me with any problems I had.” Simon, who attended the holiday as a volunteer was also mentored for several months while living in local authority care. He was so inspired by the experience that he looks forward to becoming 21 next year when he will be old enough to work as a mentor himself. “I had a real problem dealing with anger,” said Simon. “My mentor was a great guy and I got on with him really well. He helped me to discover things about myself and find things that I am really good at.” Julie Maloney, Toc H Youth Mentoring Co-ordinator, said: “The change in Simon is so inspiring. He has been a real asset on this holiday as he is so patient, particularly with the learning disabled youngsters.” Many people might be daunted to arrive for a luxury break to find a group of young people staying in the same hotel, but Dr Gordon Dick, who was also a guest staying at Alison House with his wife during the Cheshire youngsters'; visit, commented: “We were extremely impressed with the impeccable behaviour of these young people who obviously came from very different backgrounds. Watching them interacting with the Toc H leaders and each other was a truly marvellous experience.” |  |