A new beginning for Jacob

Jacob* was referred to the Children Ahead program after being physically assaulted at school. He was lucky to escape with only minor injuries and had some personal items stolen. However, the incident left him extremely anxious about school, often appearing panicked and in constant 'flight mode'.

As a result, he struggled to concentrate on learning and eventually stopped attending regularly. Jacob’s anxiety and trauma had a major impact not only on him but also on his family, who desperately wanted the best for him.

The Children Ahead team advocated for a change of school and continued providing therapeutic sessions. They worked closely with Jacob’s parents and teachers to support his transition and developed plans for his safe engagement at the new school. Many other services are unable to provide this flexibility and parallel support for carers and educators in understanding a child’s behaviour through a trauma informed lens.

By providing regular intensive therapeutic support and helping those around him to better understand his needs, Jacob’s mental health and overall happiness improved significantly. He learned to identify and express his thoughts, feelings, and worries and developed better coping strategies for difficult emotions.

As his self-esteem grew, so did his social skills. He formed close friendships outside of school and strengthened his connection with his family. With newfound confidence, he even started tennis lessons. To help with costs, we secured a microgrant from another organisation, ensuring Jacob could pursue this new interest.

With positive progress to his overall wellbeing, Jacob eventually decided he no longer needed therapeutic support. Given the trauma so many of our clients have experienced, seeing this outcome was incredibly heartening.