Isa's - Story
I’ve been doing the On Track to Achieve programme at my school for the last few months, working with Jack Rutter, my athlete mentor.
Over the course of the programme, I’ve learned lots of new skills. One in particular was all about making an action plan for the future which is going to be really useful for when I finish school and go to college. Some bit of the programme were more challenging, like when we had to analyse our own skills and areas we need to develop but it was all really useful.
I really liked working with Jack. He was nice and friendly to all of us, and his story was inspiring. I liked playing football and basketball with him but my favourite thing was playing cricket with him. We were a partnership and we scored loads of runs and won the game for my team.
For our social action project we collected food and donations for a local food bank. Along with one of the teaching assistants, I loaded lots of food donations into the school minibus and took them to a local food bank. I didn’t realise so many people in our society needed help from foodbanks and I’d like to help them more in the future.
“Isa has been absolutely brilliant throughout the program. I’ve never been welcomed with such open arms into a school in my life before and that came from Isa. He grew in confidence, improved his teamwork skills and stepped up and showed leadership skills as the program went on too. It was a lovely way to finish by me and him putting up the biggest partnership in the cricket on our final day. Thank you to Isa, the rest of the students and all the staff for making this program one of the most enjoyable ones I’ve been a part of. ”
Jack Rutter, athlete mentor
My leadership skills have definitely improved as a result of this programme. I’ve had to lead different sessions and take on different roles and that has also really helped with my confidence.
I really enjoyed being part of this project. I’ve enjoyed all of the physical activity and I have liked leading my friends in activities. I have become more confident and would like to do more activities like this when I leave school to go to college.
Isa attended the On Track to Achieve programme at Victoria School in Birmingham. Victoria School is a community special school maintained by Birmingham City Council (BCC) for pupils aged 2 to 19 years who have cognition and learning difficulties in addition to physical disabilities and/or complex health care needs. This On Track to Achieve programme was made possible thanks to funding from the 29th May 1961 Trust.