Hope and a Future Magazine Edition 3

MORE THAN MY MISTAKES

How TLG gave Kizzy confidence to rewrite her future.

"I NEVER WANTED TO LEARN"

The

incredible

impact

one year can make.

ORDINARY CHURCHES, EXTRAORDINARY STORIES

Will you join our growing movement?

Did you ever take part in a treasure hunt as a child? The tension building with each pace taken. The puzzle of every new clue found. But, best of all, the wonder of discovering a hidden bounty of treasure!

I’m constantly struck that treasure can be found in the most unlikely of places. So often places or people are written off in our society. “They’re beyond help,” we’re told. But I’m astounded over and over that by God’s grace, those so-called ‘no hope' situations become incredible stories of unearthed treasure.

I’m excited for you to read Timmy’s story on page 4. I’m familiar with the estate that Timmy lives on and know the acute challenges present there. But the hope of a local church volunteer that unearthed the treasure within Timmy is so moving to see.

You’ll also be encouraged by our church partnership map on page 8. We’re seeing treasure unearthed through our programmes in action all over the UK. From some of the toughest parts of this nation, to some of the leafiest, the church is digging deep to bring hope to children and families. Take a look and see that volunteers from all walks of life and churches of all shapes and sizes can make a difference with TLG.

want to say just how much your faithful support towards TLG means to us, be it practical, prayerful or financial. Your compassion for struggling children and families enables us to continue to bring hope and a future each and every week.

Tim Morfin TLG Chief Executive

Photography by Becky Joy Gorman

“I just never wanted to learn”

One year can make a lifetime of difference.

Timmy didn’t choose to grow up in this challenging environment but it’s where he is.

At home, Timmy is the middle child of nine siblings and they live together with mum and dad in their four-bedroom house. At school, his teachers say that, despite having plenty of potential, he has never been bothered about learning or wanting to achieve. Sadly, statistics show that where a child grows up can have a profound impact on their performance throughout school.

NEARLY TWO million YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 10-19 LIVE IN THE MOST DEPRIVED AREAS OF ENGLAND

- Association for Young People's Health, Key Data on Adolescence (2015)

“I always found school really boring,” explains Timmy. “I just never really wanted to learn or do my homework. I found writing and reading hard too.”

Concerned for his future and his lack of motivation, Timmy’s school got in touch with a local church that offered coaching with TLG Early Intervention. Timmy’s coach Rachel began meeting with him on a regular basis for an hour each week.

“When we started coaching, it was immediately clear that Timmy just had no aspiration and zero desire to achieve anything,” says Rachel. “I was really struck when asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. Most kids normally reel off a list of jobs they’d like to do. With Timmy there was nothing. He didn’t want to be anything. He didn’t care. He didn’t want to learn. He had no goals for the future.”

In their times together, Rachel was able to provide Timmy with encouragement and words of hope, showing him that he could achieve anything he wanted to. Her words resonated with Timmy and he started receiving reward points in school almost instantly.

Timmy’s mum Sue has noticed a huge difference in him. “On the days that Timmy met with Rachel, he always got up on time and he’d rush down the hill. He was always excited to be in school on those days. Nowadays, he actually asks to do his homework and his reading!”

HE WAS BEYOND EXCITED TO SHOW RACHEL HIS SCHOOL PLANNER THIS SEPTEMBER. IT WAS FULL OF POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW HIS ATTITUDE TO LEARNING HAS CHANGED.

It’s the praise that Timmy’s received from his teachers that’s meant the most to him. He was beyond excited to show Rachel his school planner this September. It was full of positive comments about how his attitude to learning has changed. One page reads, “Timmy has started this year like a new child. His attitude to learning is great. Keep it up!”

Timmy sees his future very differently now.

“When I’m older I want to be a policeman, or a vet or own a café! I know which secondary school I want to go to and I’d like to go university after that.”

If it weren’t for Rachel, Timmy could have slipped into a lifetime of low aspiration and joblessness. But thankfully, now, he has just one word to describe school: great.

Discover how your church can help to support struggling children and their families in your community. Visit tlg.org.uk/earlyintervention

“That changedweekend my life”

When Asher and her nan Lydia first met Lorna, a TLG coach from their local church in Worcestershire, they could never have imagined the complete transformation that unfolded in their lives. Just one weekend was enough to turn back years of struggle for Lydia.

“Solemn – that’s the word I’d have used to describe Asher. She was always putting herself down and had such low self-esteem. She’d been bullied throughout primary school and it had left her feeling worthless. It wasn’t just once that she’d told me she wished she was dead.

was going through my own challenges too. I’d faced a number of challenges with my mental health and had gone through a difficult relationship that had broken down. I wanted to help Asher but our relationship was tough. She found my mental ill health difficult to understand and she didn’t want to

talk to me about her struggles whilst I battled my own. I was worried about Asher but didn’t know how to help her.

That’s when we met Lorna.

Every week, whilst Asher was in year six, Lorna came in to see Asher as her TLG coach. She was from the local church and her love and care for Asher made a huge impact. She was very patient and she listened to Asher. During their time together, she boosted Asher’s self-confidence and Asher became a completely different person.

I WAS NERVOUS WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE BECAUSE I'M NOT VERY SOCIALLY ACTIVE. BUT ONCE I ARRIVED AT THE VENUE I WAS TALKING TO EVERYONE. I GOT UP AND ACTUALLY DID THINGS!

- Asher, at the TLG Family Adventure Weekend.

Before, Asher wouldn’t talk to anyone but now she’s outgoing and she’s got friends! She meets them on her way to school and they all walk together. It makes me so proud of her.

It was earlier this year that Lorna invited us to go on the TLG Family Adventure Weekend in Staffordshire. I was apprehensive about going. I wasn’t the person used to be and I didn’t socialise like when I was younger. I locked myself away a lot of the time. But I went for Asher.

Well that weekend changed my life too.

From the moment we stepped over the door of the activity centre the people were so lovely. You couldn’t ask for better people. I did things I never thought I’d do like archery and crafts! It was fantastic. Everybody mixed with each other and found a new confidence that I didn’t have before.

We prayed a lot on the weekend away and it’s restored my faith. I’d never felt so at peace. You see, I’d lost faith in the church. But, now I would say that whatever situation you’re in there’s always a place for the church in your life. Because of our friendship with Lorna we’ve been along to more church events

recently. We went along to a church barbeque the other week, which we loved.

I’m so grateful to Lorna for still being in our lives. She didn’t just drop Asher when the coaching finished; she’s still there for her and she pops in for a coffee from time to time.

Life is so different now. Asher is up in the mornings ready for school. She enjoys her schoolwork and the teachers – well most of them! She wants to work in the medical profession and she’s even decided she’s not going to get married until her late 20s so that she can pursue her career!

And me? I’m a more positive person now. I don’t worry about Asher like used to. She’s just a typical thirteen year old. I even love that she’s got the confidence to talk back to me now!

I’m very proud of Asher. Very proud indeed."

Read more stories just like Asher’s on our website: www.tlg.org.uk/stories

ORDINARY PEOPLE, ORDINARY CHURCHES, EXTRAORDINARY STORIES...

Whether your church is big or small, urban or rural, old or new, we know that your church can - and will - play a huge part in transforming lives with TLG. Over 100 churches nationwide now partner with us, with a new church signing up every week! Take a look at just some of them to see the impact TLG partnerships are having.

special Early intervention offer!

£300 off!

Begin a new enquiry and partner with us by 31st December 2017 to receive your £300 training discount!

This offer is only open for a limited number of churches. Call our Church Partnership team on 01274 900387 & quote ‘HOPE17' to begin your journey today!

MORE THAN MY MISTAKES

When Kizzy was referred to one of our London education centres, she came with a warning. Our team were told there was no way this girl could turn things back around. Despite the terrible mistakes that blighted her school career, Kizzy’s future is looking more hopeful than ever.

“For me, school was really hard. I wasn’t the girl that listened or did things straight away. I was that girl who was always in detentions for silly things like not doing my homework, walking out of the classroom, not bringing in my PE kit. I was always arguing back.

Through all the schools I’ve been to, both primary school and secondary school, I’d say I was the worst behaved child in the school. In fact, the teachers used to tell me that. In secondary school, my head teacher would say, 'your behaviour’s very bad. I’ve never had a child behave like this.' Primary school was so up and down. I’d just arrived in the UK from Cameroon and it was hard to settle in. I’d be well behaved one day and the next day I’d start arguing and having fights. It was just a routine of being good, being bad, being good, being bad.

In year 7, I got excluded from mainstream school for fighting the head teacher. For a month was at home. No school. Nothing to do.

They wanted to send me to a PRU (Pupil Referral Unit). I didn’t like the sound of that. I knew that once you’re in a PRU it can be hard to get back into mainstream school.

But they told me about this other school called TLG. They told me it might help my chances of getting back into mainstream.

TLG has helped me a lot. They helped me to change my behaviour. At mainstream school I was the worst behaved, but now at TLG I think I’m the best behaved! Now I focus on my work and not the banter that’s going on around me.

I like it here at TLG. The staff are supportive. Whenever there’s a problem you can call them over and they will come and help you. You can always talk to them if something’s happening to you. Whatever’s going on at home, at school, or even outside of school, you can always talk to them.

I think there’s a difference between teachers that like students and teachers that care for their students as if they are their own children. At TLG, they treat us with the same kindness they would their own children.

AT TLG, THEY TREAT US WITH THE SAME KINDNESS THEY WOULD THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

Thank you TLG for not giving up on me because now I’ve got plans for my future and I want to be a physiotherapist. If it weren’t for TLG, I don’t think I’d still be in school. They gave me a chance and I’m so grateful."

In the summer of 2017, Kizzy was presented with an award at her education centre awards evening. As she received her award, Kizzy sang the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ to recognise how far she’d come and to give thanks to God for the change in her life.

No child should feel like they're facing each day alone

This morning across the UK, thousands of children woke up feeling alone. Whether they were anxious about what the day held, sad about the loss of a loved one, wondering why dad moved out or feeling like there's no one there to talk to, no child should feel like they’re facing the day alone.

Research has shown that two thirds of children ‘worry all the time’. Take a moment to consider the school down the road from you. There could be at least 30 children desperate for someone to support them.

The truth is that this school year, there will be children that don’t make it to the end of July. Over 200,000 more children and young people will be kicked out of school by July. Some for a few days, others permanently. Some will even be as young as six years old. The statistics for those excluded are startling.

We’re concerned – really concerned. The number of children struggling and facing school exclusion is growing. In fact, in the last four years, the number of children aged six and under permanently excluded from school has nearly doubled. We urgently need to help more and more children at crisis point in school through our local church partners. School only lasts a few years but the impact of it can last a lifetime.

We’re sure that like us you don’t want to see any child struggle on their own now and in the years to come.

If you are one of the thousands of people that have watched our video ‘No Child Alone’ shared on Facebook in the recent weeks – thank you! But we want to do more. We believe that there is hope for every child feeling like they’re facing the day alone and we want to get the message out.

BETWEEN 2010 AND 2015, HALF A MILLION MORE CHILDREN FELL INTO ABSOLUTE POVERTY 1

1 IN 10 CHILDREN IN THE UK FEEL UNABLE TO COPE WITH THE SCHOOL DAY 2

CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CARE ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE EXCLUDED AS THOSE WHO HAVE NOT 3

Join thousands of others, passionate about seeing young lives transformed, and follow TLG on Facebook for inspiring stories, exciting updates and to share our film with your friends! Visit www.facebook.com/tlg.org

Not on Facebook? Watch our new film by visiting www.tlg.org.uk/no-child-alone

pray with us

Here at TLG, we’re so encouraged by the difference made by the faithful prayers of our supporters up and down the country.

“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen”

- Jeremiah 29v12 (MSG)

EXCLUSIONS CRISIS

In England and Wales, fixed-term exclusions are rising at an alarming rate, with many also occurring in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Behind every statistic is a struggling child and a future in jeopardy. Pray that, despite circumstances, no child would feel their future is limited but that they would have confidence in the opportunities that their God-given skills and abilities bring.

ALONE THIS SEASON

For so many children Christmas is a really challenging season. Whether home is a difficult environment or they are separated from loved ones, pray that every child knows the hope that Christmas brings.

CHRISTMAS APPEAL

In a few weeks, TLG will be launching our Christmas Appeal, offering hope and opportunity to struggling children and families. Pray that we would continue to be able to expand our life-transforming work throughout 2018 and that many families would be able to explore faith through our 2018 holiday support.

A MOVEMENT OF CHURCHES

Finally, thank God that one church every single week is being equipped to get alongside struggling children and families through TLG. Pray for the UK church to rise up and respond to the urgency of this growing national issue by praying, speaking up and bringing change.

I/we would like to become a Hope Giver and donate a monthly amount of:

Read all about it!

Be inspired & claim your FREE copy of ‘Out of the Ordinary: The TLG Story’ written by TLG’s founder, Tim Morfin. Visit tlg.org.uk/tlg-book to order yours today!

“This is an exhilarating story. The vision of TLG is a nation-changing one.”

- JOHN KIRKBY, Founder & International Director of Christians Against Poverty

Please claim gift aid on my donations to TLG today, in the past 4 years and in the future. confirm have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities of Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. understand TLG will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 that gave up to 5 April 2008 and will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that give on or after 6 April 2008. Please notify TLG if your name, address or eligibility for Gift Aid change.

by Direct

£300off! Seepage9foryourspecial EarlyInterventiondiscount

ordinary people, ordinary churches,extraordinary stories...

One church every week is signing up as a TLG Early Intervention partner

For your church to begin an exciting journey transforming lives in your community, why not run an Early Intervention programme with TLG?

Visit www.tlg.org.uk/early-intervention or call 01274 900377 to start the conversation today!