A parent's view of CTF

Raequan was referred to Coping Through Football aged 9 by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) as I had informed them he had no social inclusion with children his age and his mental health was severely deteriorating after he had been permanently excluded in October 2021 from the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). He had been attending the PRU since the age of 5 and this was his third permanent exclusion. He could not cope in a mainstream setting and struggled with unexpected changes to his routine.

He had lost his trust in people of authority after a school accident aged 5 led to a severe break to his arm which required surgery. He had three failed attempts of reintegration back into three mainstream schools without any special educational needs and disabilities support (SEND) and he quickly became isolated from society.

He was diagnosed with Autism, ADHD on his 9th birthday in 2021 and he also presents as ODD.

Coping Through Football was a catalyst of the beginning for Raequan; over time he built trust, understanding and solidified friendships with peers of all ages within the Coping Through Football community.

He attends every week and you can see how much he has blossomed into the lovely, funny, kind and caring young child we all know and love today.

Raequan has been able to show leadership, tenacity, strength and an unwavering ability of never giving up with all the odds stacked against him.

Since attending Coping Through Football I went on to draft an Education, Health and Care Plan on his behalf which then allowed for us to look at specialist schools for Raequan who could meet his needs.

In March 2022 Raequan was accepted by a specialist school out of borough where he continues to make us as a family proud every day. The school love him and are so inclusive of children with additional needs and it shows as he continues to go from strength to strength.

He attends Powerleague each week with his school and is a solid part of the school football team and actually plays with the older children aged between 14-16 years old. His teachers are extremely proud of him and concur that he is a leader within his environment who also recognises when to help others.

He has gone on to win awards for fantastic behaviour, came home with several medals at sports day and is his school’s People Ambassador.

I am thankful to Coping Through Football as I feel they were able to aid my child at a time when we all felt like we didn’t have any fight left. Raequan eats, breathes and sleeps football and Coping Through Football has assisted him in making the right choices and improved his own mental health. He has attended football sessions in the borough since the age of 5, however as he got older he was unable to regulate his emotions. SEND football is more manageable for Raequan and he also has an understanding that there are other children with needs.

Raequan felt discarded from society when he first joined Coping Through Football, however the project gave him a safe space to enjoy what he loves and for that I will forever be grateful.

I would like to thank all that run the service as it was paramount to my son’s continued success.