Here, one mum shares how the life of her son has been transformed by doing karate at the Crossroads Care Saturday Club for children with special educational needs.
Before Tomiwa, 13, started attending The Saturday Club, he struggled to communicate and make friends. Tomiwa has Global Developmental Disorder, meaning he experiences difficulties with fine motor skills, speech, cognitive abilities and social skills. For years, these challenges left him feeling isolated, but everything began to shift when he joined The Saturday Club.
His mum, Jamie, said: ‘Tomiwa struggled with his communication, speaking only in two-word sentences. He was difficult to understand, so children his own age quickly grew weary and lost interest in him. The club is a safe space where he is surrounded by young people who have their own challenges, so he’s been able to find his voice there.
‘It’s done wonders for his self-confidence because he has found several friends there who he feels comfortable with. He was lonely before, but now he talks about wanting to meet up with friends which is something he never did before.
‘The club environment has been key. Tomiwa especially loves the karate sessions, though he’s also enthusiastic about table football and street dance. At home, he practises his karate constantly, carefully naming each move.
‘The support at the club has been exceptional from the very beginning. The process of settling Tomiwa in began before he even attended, with Club Lead Danielle Way visiting Tomiwa’s school to properly understand his needs.
‘The changes in Tomiwa are remarkable. The karate has improved his coordination, made him calmer and helped him to overcome his worries about people being cross with him as well as his sensitivity to noise. He can now listen to instructions without feeling overwhelmed. His communication is blossoming too. The staff at the Saturday Club encourage Tomiwa to speak more than just a couple of words at a time.
‘The Saturday Club isn’t just great for Tomiwa, it’s a lifesaver for me too. Those three hours each week give me space to breathe, go for a walk, or meet a friend, then come back together with Tomiwa refreshed, with both of us having much to talk about.
‘Crossroads is a wonderful organisation with staff that are professional and reassuring. I’m so thankful we found the charity.’
