The AI training facilitated by Andrew and provided by Level Up, I can honestly say, was one of the most engaging and inspiring experiences of training. Andrew's depth of knowledge and passion for the subject was contagious, and he could explain complex concepts in an accessible way, which kept me fully engaged for the entire three hours! Considering I have ADHD and often struggle to maintain focus for a long time, it was informative and also practical and real-world applications. Exciting and scary. I have learned how to streamline tasks, and my colleagues are so inspired that we're planning a 30-minute AI session for the staff at the Centre for ADHD and Autism because we truly believe that implementing AI in our process significantly reduces downtime, giving us more opportunities to focus on hands-on work what makes a difference.

Good

My two kids loved this summer camp. Amazing range of events on offer including rock climbing, rugby, roller skating, massive zip wire, raft building, laser clay pigeon shooting, nerf games and parcours. Kids were split into same-age mixed groups so it was easy to make friends. Leaders were supportive, kind, and excellent with the kids. Everyone joined in and had a go. My kids are so sad it's all over but they will certainly be continuing with some of the new sports they tried at camp. I cannot praise this Met Police initiative enough. Thank you Ben and your team.

My son attended this camp for the first time. It was excellent! He thoroughly enjoyed all the activities and sports. There was a good atmosphere, discipline and structure. Very well organised and the kids were cared for. We can't wait for the next one!

I can't thank you all enough! Kayden absolutely loved the camp, you guy's give the kids so much to do and keep them motivated and active.

Honestly the best holiday camp around and run by an amazing group of people! Just wanted to show my appreciation. I will always be greatful.

Thanks again!

I can't thank you all enough! Kayden absolutely loved the camp, you guy's give the kids so much to do and keep them motivated and active.

Honestly the best holiday camp around and run by an amazing group of people! Just wanted to show my appreciation. I will always be greatful.

Thanks again!

I have just finished this camp today and it was absolutely incredible . There are so many activities ranging from kayaking to zip-lining and you never get bored. You learn something new every day and it’s easy to socialise with other young people to make friends and get people off of the street. Thank you to Ben and his team who made this amazing program happen and I hope to come again next year

I was looking for some initial tennis exposure for my 5 year old and came across these sessions. The instructors are patient and work brilliantly with a very active group of young children. At every session there are different games and activities to help young ones practice coordination. We will certainly join the next session! Thank you for organising.

so much fun

A great place to come together and unwind

It's fun. It's good, because you can build this network of people of all different ages and people you wouldn't have normally been in contact with. It's also good because it combines socialising with exercise and everyone feels comfortable there..

You could feel safe there - they always make sure that you know that you can talk to them at any time. There was a lot of different variety of exercise. Breathe made me feel calm and refreshed, Evie

This was my favourite toddler group, I went, then later my 2 brothers went. Mum changed my nursery hours to make sure she didn’t miss out and made the best friends there - so did I!
I went every year to summer clubs there to meet up with these friends and helped out when I was too old for that. Really brilliant place with warm welcoming people that always inspire and give :100:

I discovered Roxeth Community Church Toddler group through a friend 5 years ago and never left! At the time it was run by Jan and now it’s run by Jenny, both wonderful woman with the love of God in their hearts. My two children both loved Toddlers, it was are favourite group of the week. Arts and crafts, a big open, clean space to play and tea/coffee and pain au chocolate for kids and grownups alike. We made lots of friends and have started attending other Roxeth events like Messy Church and Holiday Club because of Toddlers.

Nathan says, Holiday club is really fun. I really like the acting and all the games that we play especially "Shark". I like the loud atmosphere and the intro songs like the Sid the Sloth song! It's been really fun over the last years!

I realise now that people do want to listen to what I say, and that I can make friends

A really safe space where we could explore resilience

It's really good to be able to talk and debate issues in class

This was good, interesting and fun. I liked debating different topics and listening to others

I enjoyed doing the activities in these and thought they were easy to remember. They helped me feel calm

This has helped me be kinder to myself as a parent and given me some ideas for how I can best support both my child and myself when times are tough

The programme was fun, creative and interesting. I feel its helped me to think smarter and improved my communication

"It was a fun and enjoyable experience that allowed all of us to express anything we might want on the topics discussed with no fear of being judged" - Ruby

SOHK has helped multiple of schools and students to have a chance of letting all there stress and anger or issues out all on the pitch it is a good sport to do also as the monitoring motivates you to play on the field and practice your teamwork / communication skills.

sohk helped develop my social skills and help me develop my freind group and i made freinds for life they teach me to cope in school with different social situations in my daily life .

The main thing I learnt was to be more comfortable around people, the more I was comfortable, the more people liked me. People liked me for who I am instead of me pretending to be someone

This session made me feel happy that there's people out there that want to talk to us, and enjoy talking to us

We had a breakthrough with one of our girls. She’s struggled with being bullied, not having any peers and being painfully shy. For the first few webinars she only communicated through the chat box, but this week she felt confident enough to take herself off mute and speak - it’s the best outcome we could have hoped for!

“Since the programme I think I have changed a lot. I’m calm and I know how to deal with things properly. There’s other options. I can just sit back”. - Harrow High

“The biggest thing this webinar helped me with was coping techniques, I don't really know how to learn about them so it's been really useful”

These were great - I especially liked the box breath exercise and it helped me to put some routine into my days.

Really easy to implement the ideas and so helpful! My child has been feeling anxious and not able to sleep in the run up to returning to school after prolonged lockdown, so this was helped us to connect.

I'd definitely recommend this programme to other young people! Doing Spear (online) at the start of my gap year really helped me in terms of my mindset and approach and also practical things like improving my CV and interview technique. The best part is definitely the supportive community you form with other young people and I really enjoy going to our weekly catch up sessions! (Spear Career)

This workshop was pretty gd. made me see that i can find a leader in maself that i could use when playing sports with my friends or just in general. maybe i can think more about what i wana do as a career. will defo take it agen if i can.

EPIC expression was a great project! really loved gettin involved in the rap workshop. the lightshow was fun and interesting too. would like to learn more cause i was abit bored at home learning online and not being allowed out to see my friends. learning something new was better than going to sainburys or playing Xbox again. The people who did the workshop were kl.

Hi i’m Mira. I am attending English classes at valar Thamil Nilayam. I really enjoy the classes and my teacher teaches me Grammar and this helps me in my school work too. She also helps me in organising my thoughts and writing big write’s. she also conducts debates and teaches us how to come up with arguments and good points. Thank you for the classes I really enjoy them.

I am a Year 3 student attending Maths classes at Valar Thamil Nilayam, I really enjoy the classes and my teacher Miss Sarubini is fantastic, she helps me in my maths learning and teaches the problems patiently. It helps me in understanding my school maths too, thank you very much Miss Rubi.
Mira

I am Varshmi Yasotharan and I am currently attending English classes which have been taking place at (Rooks Heath) Valar Thamil Nilayam. My experience has been wonderful as we do different work every week and our teacher always helps us. We learn new things and have fun at the same time. Every week, we get asked what we did during the days before our classes and take turns explaining. We always start with a positive mood and end with the same mood. I am always looking forward to my classes and am wanting to find out what new things we are going to learn.

My name is Varshmi and I am currently taking Maths classes at (Rooks Heath) Valar Thamil Nilayam. To me this subject is fun and easy to understand. This is because our teacher explains it in the most easiest way possible so that we can understand. When the work is a bit confusing, we ask her and she explains it. These classes have developed my knowledge in Maths. The classes have been enjoyable, challenging and worth it. I always feel positive when attending my classes.v

Since I have started bharathanatyam at Valar Thamil Nilayam, it has been very enjoyable. My teacher is extremely kind and helpful and has helped me improve in many aspects of my dancing. I look forward to every week going to dance and the environment in which I dance is extremely comfortable. At the moment, I have been preparing for my Grade 3 examination and I have already taken the Grade 1 and 2 exams. Overall, it has been an amazing experience and I am very happy with the opportunity given to me.

The first time I attended Valar Thamil Nilayam in Rooks Heath was in 2014 to enrol my sister so that she could start her Tamil learning journey. At the time, I was new to London and I felt like I was too old to carry on studying Tamil as I could not complete grade 8 previously due to lack of teachers where I lived. However, to my surprise, I saw few older students at Valar Thamil Nilayam. This gave me hope in restarting my Tamil learning journey.


In fact, the headteacher Mrs Malathy Pirabakaran was very welcoming and gave me her full support to carry on my studies from where I left off. Not only this, but she saw my potential and advised me to take the Tamil GCSE examination as well. Even though I was quite scared and not very confident at the time, with the immense support from the members of staff at Valar Thamil Nilayam, I was able to achieve high grades such as "A*" and "A" for these examinations.

After this, I was preparing to get into university. Again, Mrs Malathy Pirabakaran encouraged me to take the Cambridge A-Level exam in Tamil. The amount of effort and dedication that she put into helping me to master my Tamil knowledge, made me fall in love with my mother tongue even further. As she saw my growth and constant involvement within the school, she gave me the opportunity to be a part of the administration team and to help younger classes in their studies. This was a very prideful moment as I was so happy to be an example for our future gems and to be a part of the students’ life in embracing their Tamil roots.

Although I had to concentrate on my studies, I was fully involved with the school. I gave my full support in planning and helping the students with their performances and competitions during our annual cultural events. I regularly attended the staff meetings and seminars offered by Valar Thamil Nilayam which allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.

Due to Covid19, the school has moved to online classes. Even though I haven’t been able to be a part of this change, I have seen my sister’s improvement who is currently studying in grade 6. I was quite shocked to see how fast the teachers have adapted their teaching and how much effort they have been putting in ensuring a full 360 learning for all the students. I am hoping that the school receives the deserved support from parents and students to keep operating and keeping our Tamil culture alive.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Valar Thamil Nilayam for creating such a positive environment where the students can learn and grow on a regular basis. Each event cannot be successful if it wasn’t for the strong collaboration and support amongst staffs, students and families.

வாழ்க தமிழ் வளர்க தமிழ் !!
Raxana Kanagasabai

My name is Vithurshana Ragulan and I’ve been studying at Valar Thamil Nilayam for around 5 years now. I’m currently studying in year 10 after finishing my A-Level a couple of months ago and I’m extremely proud of where I am in the subject Tamil today - thanks to the teachers. I’ve been encouraged to be better at Tamil every time by all the teachers. The teachers here are very passionate to teach the language to as many children as possible and help the language continue to grow. Here, we aren’t only taught Tamil but we are also taught to follow our cultural attributes, the good habits, the skills we need for life etc.

Throughout the academic year, learning my mother tongue was made more fun with the competitions. For example, there are spelling contests for all year groups. The winners receive trophies and medals when events are held, which are very motivating for the students as it pushes them to do more and better. Even when the students don’t receive any prizes, they still feel appreciated by the cheerful words said by the teachers. On top of that, there are term and yearly assessments to test the knowledge of the students, which lets us (students) reflect and progress. Each year, there’s an event when all the parents and students dress up in the cultural outfits. On this day, the students perform various performance – showcasing their special talents. Last year, I participated in a historical play and I played the character of a Portuguese man. I had no idea I could play that character in front of the audience because I felt shy and discouraged. I also said I didn’t want to take part in this but my two teachers encouraged me to do it and because of that, I built my confidence. Their pleasant words meant a lot to me.

When I was learning all the ancient books, stories, songs and poems for my A-Level exam, I learnt so many things about life, human nature, how to deal with certain situations and most importantly, how to be a human. These teachings will stay with me forever and it has made me a better human being - making me feel proud to be Tamil. Throughout my journey with the centre, my love for Tamil has grown; I managed to build on many of my skills, such as: reading, writing and speaking; I understood the importance of learning Tamil and following our ancestors’ footsteps. In conclusion, I have been enjoying learning at Valar Thamil Nilayam and don’t regret a single day. It has helped many students in many ways.

Hi, my name is Raxitha and I study Maths at Valar Thamil Nilayam (Rooks Heath). I find this subject very enjoyable and understandable as the teacher (Sarubini) explains it in a way that we all understand. Since I started attending these classes, I have understood more topics in Maths. She gives us work that can be quite challenging in order to drive us to our full abilities. She asks us what concepts we find challenging, so that she can help us to boost our knowledge by giving us the theoretical side of the subjects that can be applied when doing the worksheets. Although maths is not my favourite subject, my teacher makes it engaging so I look forward to attending these classes.

I joined Valar Tamil Nilayam in 2014 and I started in Grade 1. The teachers have taught me a lot and I think my language has improved since going here. Due to COVID-19 we have moved to online classes and this is proving to be very good and I think it is very helpful that we can learn during these times.

I have been studying Bharadhanatyam for several years now and the experience has been extremely enjoyable. I am currently preparing for my Grade 3 exam after previously having taken my grade 1 and 2 exams with the help of our amazing teacher who always motivates and encourages us to perform at our best. Dance lessons are something we all look forward to each week

At Valar Thamil Nilayam, I have been learning Bharatanatyam for a few years now. From my personal experience, I would rate this class a 10/10. I am now preparing for Grade 3, as I have already taken my examination for Grade 1 and 2. From the day I have started learning Bharatanatyam, my teacher has been very supportive and has been very kind towards me and my fellow pupils. Overall I am very pleased with these classes as they are very exciting and enjoyable.

The first time I attended Valar Thamil Nilayam in Rooks Heath was in 2014 to enrol my sister so that she could start her Tamil learning journey. At the time, I was new to London and I felt like I was too old to carry on studying Tamil as I could not complete grade 8 previously due to lack of teachers where I lived. However, to my surprise, I saw few older students at Valar Thamil Nilayam. This gave me hope in restarting my Tamil learning journey.

In fact, the headteacher Mrs Malathy Pirabakaran was very welcoming and gave me her full support to carry on my studies from where I left off. Not only this, but she saw my potential and advised me to take the Tamil GCSE examination as well. Even though I was quite scared and not very confident at the time, with the immense support from the members of staff at Valar Thamil Nilayam, I was able to achieve high grades such as "A*" and "A" for these examinations.

After this, I was preparing to get into university. Again, Mrs Malathy Pirabakaran encouraged me to take the Cambridge A-Level exam in Tamil. The amount of effort and dedication that she put into helping me to master my Tamil knowledge, made me fall in love with my mother tongue even further. As she saw my growth and constant involvement within the school, she gave me the opportunity to be a part of the administration team and to help younger classes in their studies. This was a very prideful moment as I was so happy to be an example for our future gems and to be a part of the students’ life in embracing their Tamil roots.

Although I had to concentrate on my studies, I was fully involved with the school. I gave my full support in planning and helping the students with their performances and competitions during our annual cultural events. I regularly attended the staff meetings and seminars offered by Valar Thamil Nilayam which allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.

Due to Covid19, the school has moved to online classes. Even though I haven’t been able to be a part of this change, I have seen my sister’s improvement who is currently studying in grade 6. I was quite shocked to see how fast the teachers have adapted their teaching and how much effort they have been putting in ensuring a full 360 learning for all the students. I am hoping that the school receives the deserved support from parents and students to keep operating and keeping our Tamil culture alive.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Valar Thamil Nilayam for creating such a positive environment where the students can learn and grow on a regular basis. Each event cannot be successful if it wasn’t for the strong collaboration and support amongst staffs, students and families.

வாழ்க தமிழ் வளர்க தமிழ் !!
Raxana Kanagasabai

My name is Nayana Nageswaran. I have been studying at Valar Thamil Nilayam from a young age.the teachers are teaching the students in a good way. At Valar Thamil Nilayam, I have to learnt to write, read and speak in Thamil. Not only that, I am learning English and maths there.

Mathusan Nageswaran- year 8
I’ve studied thamil at Valar Thamil Nilayam since I was a child. Before I joined I wasn’t able to read, write or speak thamil. After having lessons at Valar Thamil Nilayam I can understand Thamil and use Thamil to communicate with other using my voice and my writing. It has been very helpful in many ways in my such as the yearly program the school hosts. The students perform in Thamil themed plays and the program is celebrated with rewards for everyone.

நான் தமிழை ரூக்ஸ் ஹீத்தில் உள்ள வsர் தமிo; நிiலயத்தில் ஆறாம் ஆண்டு படிக்கிறேன். வsர் தமிழ் நிiலயத்தில் உள்ள ஆசிரியர்கள் எமது பாடத்தை மிகச் சிறப்பாக விளக்கி ஒரு புதிய பாடத்திற்குச் செல்வதற்கு முன்பு நாம் அனைவரும் அதைப் புரிந்துகொள்வதை உறுதிசெய்கிறார்கள். ஆசிரியர்கள் எல்லோரும் எங்களுடன் அன்பாக பழகுவார்கள். எங்களுக்கு விளங்காத பாடங்கள் எல்லாம் எங்களுக்கு சொல்லி தருவார்கள். பாடசாலையில் வைக்கும் போட்டிகள் எல்லாவற்றிலும் நான் பங்குபெற்றுவேன். பாடசாலையால் நடாத்தப்படும் போட்டிகளில் பங்குபற்றுவதால் எமக்கு மனஉறுதியும் நம்பிக்கையும் ஏற்ப்படுகின்றது. ரூக்ஸ் ஹீத் வளர் தமிழ் நிலையத்தில் படிப்பதால் நான் தமிழை நிறைய படித்து வருகிறேன். நான் வளர் தமிழ் நிலையத்தில் தொடர்ந்து படித்து தாய் தமிழாம் தமிழை வளர்க்க விரும்புகின்றேன்.
ரக் ஷிதா (Raxitha Kanagasabai N.)

I recall it was September 2014. I had just finished my higher education waiting to commence my first year of university. This was when I had the remarkable opportunity from my Tamil teacher, who had taught me since I was 5 years old, and tutor/guide 'Mrs Malathy Pirabakharan' to teach Tamil for preschool children at her newly established school ''Valar Thamil Nilaiyam', built on sheer hard work and effort.

Having been born and bred in the UK, I found it to be one of the most enriching experiences to teach others my mother tongue Tamil. The motive being to ensure that our roots do not get lost down for generations to come, including the beauty and intricacies of the Tamil language from its complex grammar and classic Tamil literature pre existent for thousands of centuries as being officially classed as the oldest language in the world. There was no joy in comparison.

Notably, native parents were eager to bring their children to this school to this Tamil school to educate and learn this language innately alongside other classical arts. For the preschool children, aged 3-7, they were taught the beginnings of this language through means of pictures and figures.

Valar Thamil Nilaiyam comprises of classes tailored ranging from pre-school to university students. To establish the higher principles and standards of teaching, regular seminars formed of talks given by profound teachers were conducted. These continue to prove to be useful. Trophies, awards and medals were presented to children overachieving in every niche of their studies whether it was conducted Thirukkural competitions, classical poetry or Tamil speech competitions.

I hope they continue their hard work in running this school for many more years to come, given their pure intention to develop the awareness of this language and instil in young children with their focal societal needs. Hoping in good will that their service to the community continue and expand in reflection of their sheer determination and passion of their language.

I study English at Valar Thamil Nilayam (Rooks Heath). I personally enjoy English because I find it very enjoyable to write stories and to write creatively. My teacher has helped me to improve my creative writing and to expand my range of vocabulary. She explains how to add powerful words to stories in order to make the reader hooked. I really appreciate how she always ensures that we all understand the work.
Raxitha

I’ve been studying at Valar Thamil Nilayam for around 5 years now. I’m currently studying in year 10 after finishing my A-Level a couple of months ago and I’m extremely proud of where I am in the subject Tamil today - thanks to the teachers. I’ve been encouraged to be better at Tamil every time by all the teachers. The teachers here are very passionate to teach the language to as many children as possible and help the language continue to grow. Here, we aren’t only taught Tamil but we are also taught to follow our cultural attributes, the good habits, the skills we need for life etc.

Throughout the academic year, learning my mother tongue was made more fun with the competitions. For example, there are spelling contests for all year groups. The winners receive trophies and medals when events are held, which are very motivating for the students as it pushes them to do more and better. Even when the students don’t receive any prizes, they still feel appreciated by the cheerful words said by the teachers. On top of that, there are term and yearly assessments to test the knowledge of the students, which lets us (students) reflect and progress. Each year, there’s an event when all the parents and students dress up in the cultural outfits. On this day, the students perform various performance – showcasing their special talents. Last year, I participated in a historical play and I played the character of a Portuguese man. I had no idea I could play that character in front of the audience because I felt shy and discouraged. I also said I didn’t want to take part in this but my two teachers encouraged me to do it and because of that, I built my confidence. Their pleasant words meant a lot to me.

When I was learning all the ancient books, stories, songs and poems for my A-Level exam, I learnt so many things about life, human nature, how to deal with certain situations and most importantly, how to be a human. These teachings will stay with me forever and it has made me a better human being - making me feel proud to be Tamil. Throughout my journey with the centre, my love for Tamil has grown; I managed to build on many of my skills, such as: reading, writing and speaking; I understood the importance of learning Tamil and following our ancestors’ footsteps. In conclusion, I have been enjoying learning at Valar Thamil Nilayam and don’t regret a single day. It has helped many students in many ways.

Hi, my name is Raxitha and I study Maths at Valar Thamil Nilayam (Rooks Heath). I find this subject very enjoyable and understandable as the teacher (Sarubini) explains it in a way that we all understand. Since I started attending these classes, I have understood more topics in Maths. She gives us work that can be quite challenging in order to drive us to our full abilities. She asks us what concepts we find challenging, so that she can help us to boost our knowledge by giving us the theoretical side of the subjects that can be applied when doing the worksheets. Although maths is not my favourite subject, my teacher makes it engaging so I look forward to attending these classes.

My name is Varshmi Yasotharan. I have been attending Rooks Heath Valar Thamil Nilayam since for 5 years and I am now currently in grade 6. I began learning Tamil as I wanted to further broaden my knowledge of my mother tongue and our culture. This Tamil school has aided me in growing as a person through the loving support of the teachers as they helped me read, write and speak Tamil.

They hold various events in which we showcase our talent in Tamil through drama productions, speaking competitions and much more. I am enjoying my Thamil classes every week and I learn lots of new thing every time.

I learnt so much about myself and especially the power of being more mindful. Thank you for the experience

The workshops left me feeling more confident and I got to meet some interesting new people. I feel I have joined a community and I want to join their future projects.

Valar Thamil Nilayam Review
I am Amsena Krishnaruban, my first time joining Tamil School, I was excited to learn, read and write my mother tongue. In 2014, I joined Tamil School, when I was 6 years old. I firstly learnt Tamil and practiced how to write them. Then I had learnt new words in Tamil and was taught how to write sentences. Now, I am in Year 7 in Tamil School which I am proud to be in, as I have almost thoroughly learnt my mother tongue. I was delighted to study this language and with the help of the teachers in Tamil School, I have learnt the importance of our mother tongue and, how proud you should be of learning Tamil.
During Tamil School, I had participated in competitions such as Thirukkural and Spelling. It was good because you would be able to improve your writing and speaking whilst competing and, winning trophies, medals and certificates. I would also join vocal and keyboard lessons in Tamil School and would take my grade test. Every year, there was a festival which was called Swaraswathi Poosai, this is celebrated in our culture that we would celebrate in Tamil School and play music on the keyboard as well as do vocal. Moreover, there is English and Maths tuition which I had studied in, this had helped me to learn how to write proper PEE paragraphs in English and I had learnt how to do Pythagoras’ Theorem. At the end of each year, we would do an annual festival, where we act a play on stage which we had practised during our Tamil lessons and say thank you to our Tamil teachers for teaching us this year.
Nowadays, we are learning Tamil School online which is going well as the teachers teach us the same as we would at Tamil School. In addition, they give us breaks which I like because you get a time off the screen. Furthermore, they share screens to help us spell some words.
I like to go to Tamil School because I enjoy learning Tamil and it is nice to know another language.

My name is Lithikga Gobi and I have been learning Thamil at Valar Thamil Nilayam since I was 5 years old. Today I am in Grade 10 for Thamil as well as preparing for A-level. From my experience, Valar Thamil Nilayam is an excellent institution. From a young age, I have been supported by many kind teachers and over the years I have developed skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking - something that will forever be one of my greatest skills that I know will benefit me greatly in the future. I first began learning in order to know my mother tongue and the long experience and loving nature of all the teachers, including the headteacher, made me feel very welcome and enjoy pursuing what is now such a large part of my life. The resources used (reading and writing books) are always very informative and are the right ability for different grades, allowing us to learn new grammar, stories and about our culture. Through the term tests and end of year exams, students like myself are given the chance to check our progress which is both useful and motivating. This institution teaches the language in an engaging way by holding competitions every year to push the students and make them more eager about learning Thamil. For example, there are thirukkural competitions for students of all ages to learn couplets from a classic Thamil language text and recite them by heart in hopes of being one of the top three, as well as essay writing and spelling competitions. These events have a very exhilarating atmosphere as the students are always enthusiastic about taking part, and receive so much appreciation and uplifting words for giving the competition a shot, regardless of whether they come out with a prize. Not only this but the institution teaches about culture and religion - celebrating Thamil festivals such as Thai Pongal as one big family, which I believe is one of the best parts about these lessons as the knowledge we learn is not limited to just the language. We are all encouraged to wear traditional clothing and the families bring traditional food for us to eat and enjoy, building up our knowledge and appreciation for our wonderful culture. However, the highlight of each year I have taken classes here is the Aanduvizha (end of year celebration). Teachers and students all work together to put on Thamil dramas, tell stories and perform speeches, dances and songs in front of a large audience. This celebration not only brings together the Thamil community but it gives the students the chance to learn traditional Thamil stories and exhibit their excellent linguistic skills, in a memorable way. I remember being very scared the first time I performed a drama due to the daunting audience, however, this has allowed me to build up my confidence and last year, performing an old Thamil drama alongside my friends, was an experience I will always treasure and it opened the door to perform at an external event too, which was very exciting. All in all, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning here and would recommend it to anyone. Valar Thamil Nilayam's Thamil classes are exceptional, teaching the students in engaging ways and making all the children proud to be able to say that they Thamil.

I have been learning bharatanatyam at Valar Thamil Nilyam for several years now and it has been a great experience. From a young age I have always wanted to learn but never had the chance, therefore, when I started my first class I was very excited. Since then I have now attended two examinations and am now preparing for Grade 3. Over the years me and my friends have become very passionate about dance due to the lively dance environment and the teacher, who is always very kind and encouraging, making even the most challenging steps easier. Overall the classes have been very exciting and bharatanatyam is an amazing extra-curricular to undertake.

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Very helpful and useful!

This work is really important. Very good!

Teaching topics on mental health can be hard but Mind in Harrow creates mental health classroom resources that are compact and informative as intro to topics about mental health without being overwhelming.
They include videos and interactive activities to help lighten subject/ highlight important issues such as low self esteem & anxiety.

Making assemblies covering mental health can be hard because it is a hard topic to talk about it. Mind in Harrow tackles this well by including activities such as mindfulness exercises and making the topic concise and interactive.

Including a peer led approach helps to make the sessions, friendly and relatable.
In a time like now, where many uncertainties have been created because of the pandemic, the topic of young people's mental health/ wellbeing is integral.

These resources are really helpful and concise! They have activities that engage young people and are very informative.

The assemblies have been really informative and I am so impressed that even during lock-down HeadsUp have been giving assemblies online.
Covid has been a very difficult time for a lot of people, and these assemblies have been really helpful in trying to help give young people coping strategies and find ways to manage stress.

These resources are great!!
The videos are really insightful and cover a really good range of topics that are so important for young people to hear.

Good!

Amazing!

Great work!

A place where you can enjoy yourself and have fun. Sessions are always well run and enjoyable, really friendly environment where everyone has fun!

Very good video for young people. It raises awareness and provides helpful advice.

This is an excellent course. It gave me the tools to work on myself. I have recommended it to my stroke group, as I feel the members will benefit a lot from the sessions.

Amazing course. Learned to really look inwards and connect with myself for the purpose of relaxation and mental clarity. Would like to continue sessions!

very helpful Thank you

Amazing, really like it

This journal is super helpful!! It gives you prompts to allow you to think deeper about your thoughts and feelings during this lockdown period, as well as encouraging you to go into detail about them and therefore learn about yourself. It’s simple and easy to understand, I’d recommend it to anyone :)

I participated in this group last year and it honestly made SUCH a positive impact on me. I’ve known Ami and Ashley for a long time and I’ve always trusted them because they’ve supported me in a way that no one else ever has. The way they work is so amazing, they give you the tools and techniques you need for progressing on your own journey while reminding you how powerful you are to make the changes you need and encouraging you to trust and believe in yourself. The group is a kind and safe space where you can be surrounded by people who have struggled like you and share the ambition to make a positive change in your life and become a happier, wiser and healthier soul! I would encourage anyone and everyone to join it :)

We bought this journal for my daughter, it’s been great for her to write down some of her thoughts and feelings during lockdown.
The journal looks at lots of areas where a young person may need a helping hand to give a perspective that will help them work on this area.
The journals great quality and looks lovely and colourful.
Would definitely recommend.

The sessions were fantastic! I have been able to create huge changes in my life and am able to support my children more actively now, too. I would highly recommend ESM's counselling services. I blamed myself for what I went through and now I know it was not me, I have finally learnt to love myself. Thank you.

This tool has been incredibly useful to me, and has really helped me in moments of feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

Something that you can apply at any time, wherever you are, that really helps to bring you back to the moment. This is something for everyone to have in their back pocket!

“I think my school would be calmer and more understanding if everyone could do the Khulisa programme, including the adults” - 12 year old boy, Rooks Heath

“The session was brilliant! I really found it useful, interesting, and safe; thanks so much”
- Hannah, Participation People

This is a group for anyone who is either ready to embrace or has already begun the journey of looking inwards and taking control of your own being.

Despite previously being hesitant towards group work, Ashley and Ami provided the most incredibly safe and nurturing space where you can explore your beliefs and values to the fullest extent. And to add to the safety they provide, there is something truly amazing about exploring your beliefs alongside other individuals who are equally ready to learn more about themselves.

I truly believe that this programme will benefit anyone and everyone who is willing to take the leap to look within. Only a few weeks will enable you with tools and awareness you’ll use for a lifetime.

There are practically no regular debating clubs for young people in London. Thankfully, as part of Brent Youth Debates we have an opportunity to debate, even during a pandemic. The leaders are great.

Healthwatch Brent has had the privilege of working with this organisation and has been able to gathers/understand the views of young people. This has contributed to developing approaches that are young people focussed., especially during the pandemic. The views from young people are refreshing and this forum has helped their voices reach people who can implement changes in their community - Project Officer Healthwatch Brent

On behalf of my 3 children, just to say a huge thank you for running these workshops. They have tremendously benefited the children during lockdown, have got them out of their shelf and enabled them to do something completely different under the excellent guidance of Mike, and Eve. The communication received, content of workshops has all been fab, many thanks again!

Since I started participating, my debating skills and confidence in public speaking have improved so much. The group is very welcoming and kind so I found it very easy to fit in. Everyone is very supportive and helpful and always look to help each other improve. The topics discussed are also very interesting to talk about. I would definitely recommend joining to all young people

I joined this class last July and have been attending EVERY week. As a person living overseas and interesting in acting, this class helped me So much! Our teacher is absolutely amazing and interacts with every single person personally and helps us find our strengths and weaknesses and helps us improve our skills. I have grown such a tremendous amount as an actor and I owe it all to this class.

I've just been to one of these workshops and I felt welcome and like one of the regular attendees. The environment is amazing . I would definitely recommend this workshop.

This drama workshop has changed my acting life forever. I have received great advice and many tips and tricks when it comes to drama because of this. I have been taught skills and tactics galore and I think this is the best acting workshop I’ve ever been to! SL aged 10

Young Harrow Foundation provides a wonderful platform to those who are passionate about drama and acting. I hope they continue to conduct such workshops in future as well.

Really nice classes, focussed and tailored to students, feedback is really good, it's helpful to have multiple different perspectives, from different ages too. I love how close the class is, even though it's online, and how everyone gets to interact. Classes are always really fun but focussed. It helps a lot to see other people's performances, too.

One of the best online programs for getting to grips with acting! Before joining, I'd had inconsistent experience in theatre and with the pandemic I had no opportunity to gain a good footing; until I found this course! This course is very holistic, and looks at various genres and types from theatre to screen acting, and gets one to understand the basics while also preparing one to have a more advanced view on acting. With this course; I feel confident now in my ability to find opportunities in acting that are suited to me, as this course has helped me identify myself as an actor.

Also, this course is a really well structured programme that provides a great space for improving one's skill in theatre and creating an environment of trust and friendship. I am able to now more confidently participate in acting and theatre opportunities, and have a much greater know-how of theatre in general. This course is very beneficial to learners of theatre and acting at all stages.

I joined during the first lockdown, and as a drama student, I believe it was the best way to keep me going and to be inspired, it challenges you and makes you look forward to the next lesson. Ideal for any levels! No matter if you’re a drama student or if you want to get into drama, these workshops are for everybody. Super recommended!!!

I absolutely loved attending this workshop - as it boosted my critical thinking perspective and confidence in public speaking! I have also seen an improvement within my essays - using the tips and tricks I have learnt from GLYF!!! I really liked the topics it covers as well, most favorite is the Christmas Edition Debate Workshop where I and several other had the opportunity to discuss whether 'Money can buy happiness" it was great hearing other perspectives too with several others. This debate was hugely impactful towards my studies and will be continuing to join in their debate workshops!

The Discovery Space is the one place I have come across to date that gives a voice to the youth without parameters to suppress them. It is truly a place where the youth can come together, be it in person or online due to the pandemic, and voice their views, opinions, life stories etc. without the fear of anyone passing judgement.
It has surpassed its purpose of creating a safe space, instead it is viewed as a community by regular attendees. Prior to the pandemic, the incredible founders would prepare delicious meals and the act of breaking bread enriched that community spirt.
I do not have enough words to express what an incredible space this is and the hard work and dedication that the founders put in is beyond anything I have seen.

I always look forward to going to discovery space. The discussion are very interactive and some discussion help me with problems I’ve been dealing with.

This has been my first Leadership Programme and it is safe to say I was taken by surprise. I didn't know what to except but the well-planned sessions have left me waiting for more! I considered myself to be a leader, but each session showed me how much I have to learn in order to be the great leader I wish to become some day. The content is so relevant and relatable, which has allowed me to stay engaged throughout. The programme not only provides you with the tools of being a great leader, it also opens the door for some self reflection. I have been able to use what I have learnt to build my character and level myself in difficult situations. The organisers have kindly also allocated personal Life Coaches for each participant to aid their personal growth and discuss anything. An incredible experience that I will cherish forever!

It is uncommon to find a space where you feel genuinely open as safe to discuss any issues on your mind with strangers. Discovery space allows young individuals to come together and talk about absolutely anything. The range of personalities that have joined each week, brings an exciting vibe to every session. Even if there are conflicting views on a particular topic, everyone is respectful and understanding. The discussions that have taken place have allowed me to become more open minded and has enabled me to be more understand towards other peoples perspectives. In addition, the space has been a natural networking platform as we learn about each other throughout the sessions. The organisers are extremely friendly and look after us so well, making sure our bellies are full before we leave each session with their amazing home cooked meals!!! Discovery Space have been a vital element in my personal growth and development. Such great vibes, people and food!!!

The leadership programme has given young adults like myself to take on a project and be as creative as we want to be with it. The leadership programme has put me in situations that can help me in the future and situation that I may have previously been uncomfortable in but with the right training and support I have been able to accomplish things I never thought I would. It is a chance for young adults to become leaders and take charge in projects that can have a positive impact the community. Personally I feel like the programme has also increased my confidence as well as helping me think around problems and made me see how a setback can only push you forward. Overall I have enjoyed it so much and I am proud of the work we have done over the past 6 months.

I find the discovery space a safe space for young adults to relieve themselves of anything that has been on their minds. I love how we are able to talk about everything and anything. It’s a great place to ask for advice and not be judged by an opinion we may have or by something we have done. It’s just a space for us to unwind after the day, week or month we have had.

I've thoroughly enjoyed attending the Discovery Space, both in person and, owing to the pandemic, online. Meeting with a group of young people with such a diverse range of experiences has enabled me to empathise and understand their lived experiences, but also to act as an indpendent, impartial advisor through our open discussions. We often discuss contemporary issues in the political, social and personal context. The breadth of opinions is always refreshing. Having a space to attend that is free of judgement, open to anybody and is equally accesible has been invaluvable to me. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the Discover Space and hope to see more and more young people engage.

Discovery space is a perfect place for young people to express what is on their mind, whether it be about current global issues or wanting to start a project. Having attended a lot of sessions, it’s been very insightful for me to see how others around me react to and think about certain issues and ideas. I learnt new ways of approaching ideas and how to make change for others and for myself. Personally, once my university studies started, it was difficult to find a chance to stop and discuss with others about what is going on around us. Discovery space sessions gave me an opportunity to break away from my normal routine of study and work, and talk with people my age.

Leroy has not only devoted himself but his whole team to enhancing the lives of KS3, KS4 and KS5 students at Burlington Danes Academy. His Sweet Science programme benefits key components of health and skill related fitness and more importantly builds character development, mental awareness and life skills for our vulnerable students. He has provided extra curricular boxing clubs (before, during and after school), practically assessed GCSE students and build long lasting relationships with staff and students. I can speak for everyone here at BDA and it was a pleasure working and learning from his boxing expertise. Keep inspiring the next generation!

I found therapy hard at first, however, it was very helpful for stopping self-harm. If you're thinking of trying it, definitely reach out as I feel I have come a long way since my first session.

I have found being able to talk with other people my age very helpful, as it allowed me to deal with the anxiety surrounding university.

I have been attending wish for a while now, and so far this helped more then any of my admissions did. I find it very easy to talk about my problems as well as I know if I feel uncomfortable to talk they’ll understand and help me work with what I feel comfortable with. Wish helped me get a better understanding of myself and supported me in rough times. I would definitely recommend to a friend or family in need of therapy.

I have been attending the weekly support group which has been amazing as it gave me a chance to speak to other young people who understand and created a safe space for me. I am also part of a positive change group chat where everyone is so supportive and everyone is always willing to listen to each other. It felt like such a welcoming environment. Wish has really helped me to feel more confident and created such a safe environment where I feel comfortable to talk and be me.

It was a great way to keep busy during lockdown and offered me the opportunity to speak to other young people when we were isolated at home. It help me create structure in my week and everyone was so kind, caring and supportive. It offered a range of activities and was always a lot of fun.

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I love working for Wish with our unique young person centred model and recovery journey.
It's great seeing young people move through therapy, activities, peer support and eventually onto being ambassadors and volunteers.

I really enjoy attending the online sessions run by Wish, my favourite are the Lockdown Art sessions run Thursday/Friday. The support group is also really understanding and kind, we always look out for eachother and can speak about things without judgement.