As we near the end of the year, our thoughts, and perhaps yours, are pulled to the joys of the holidays. Christmas parties, twinkling lights, meals with loved ones, and a chance to switch off from the everyday seem to hover invitingly on the horizon, tailed by a fresh sense of optimism and anticipation for the coming year.
For many young people, the outlook is not so bright. For those unable to attend school due to SEND, mental health struggles, trauma or bullying, the coming months are full of stress and anxiety as they struggle, and often fail, to go to school. The new year, seemingly bringing more of the same, looks bleak.
More young people than ever are struggling to attend school because of anxiety, trauma and bullying. Absence rates and mental health issues among children have skyrocketed since the pandemic. They need our help.
Could you give today to help a young person get their life back on track?
Red Balloon provides a lifeline to these young people. We don’t shy away from the hardships they’ve been through. We put the young person first, learning their struggles, their strengths, their goals and their passions. We create a safe place for them to learn and to flourish.
But we can’t do it alone.
Gifts from supporters like you are what makes everything possible.
Your gift could help change the life of a young person who thinks there’s no help left for them. A young person like Julia, who joined Red Balloon terrified for her future after two years out of school because of PTSD and bullying from her classmates. As a teenager, she was convinced she would end up “as nothing” but went from strength to strength once she received the support she needed. Julia is now in her 30s, happy, confident, and doing incredible things in her career. This is the difference your support can make.
You can read Julia’s incredible story at the link below.
How You Can Help
Experiences like Julia’s are still happening today. Our current climate means that even the best schools simply do not have the resources needed to support all the young people who come through their doors, no matter how hard they try. This means some young people fall through the cracks and find they have nowhere left to turn. When mainstream school is no longer an option, Red Balloon can be the lifeline they need.
Can you help by donating to Red Balloon Educational Trust this Christmas?
I wish you could see the change in our students after joining us. From being too afraid to leave their bedrooms, to confidently heading to college; the transformation our students make is incredible. This change is made possible by people like you. Each pound you donate paves the way for a student’s next step on their path of recovery.
