Worthing Mayor To Open Red Balloon Centre For Children Unable To Attend School

Saturday, 8 October 2022 06:00

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

The Mayor of Worthing will officially open a new Learner Centre for children who have self-excluded from school after severe bullying or trauma, or who have mental health issues.

Red Balloon Worthing has opened its doors to students who have found mainstream school challenging.

In many cases these children and young people have not been in education for a year or more.

Kim Anderson, Head of Red Balloon Worthing said:

“We are so excited to officially open the Centre which will offer young people who are missing from education the opportunity to raise their self esteem, get back on an academic track and in due course return to mainstream education.

"These children have not been excluded from school but have self-excluded because they have been severely bullied, they suffer from depression or they are socially anxious.

"Red Balloon Worthing is an alternative to school which concentrates on wellbeing, negotiated learning, and creative and social activities”

Red Balloon founder, Dr Carrie Herbert MBE, set up the first centre at her house in Cambridge 26 years ago.

She said:

“Bullying, abuse, mental ill-health are among the most common causes that lead young people to leave school and hide in their bedrooms.

"They isolate themselves from the company of others, from school and from society.

"Some of our students had been out of school for years and many had seriously considered suicide. The situation has escalated since the pandemic”.

Students’ passions, interests and issues are at the heart of our programmes at Red Balloon.

A timetable split between wellbeing, therapy and academic studies is in place as part of the initiative.

The official launch will be held on Saturday October 15.

The Mayor will cut the ribbon, say a few words about the centre, and thank the many volunteers and donors who have helped to create a welcoming and safe environment.