Please note that his name has been changed in line with our safeguarding policies.
Jay is a young person who started taking part in our Feeling Funny Youth Comedy Club in January 2019.
Jay (13) joined us at the club through a referral from his mother. When he joined us we were notified by his parents that he had been severely struggling with anxious thoughts and feelings over a period of four to five months during his transition into High School.
He was struggling to travel and attend school due to his negative thoughts and feelings. His mother was very concerned and wanted to find an alternative outlet for him to express himself.
His confidence levels were low due to his concerns transitioning into high school therefore he was unable to take part in drama and performances which he had previously done so.
Within the first session Jay was very quiet and reluctant to walk to the room where the session was held. The team invited his mother to join him if he felt more comfortable in the session to which she agreed. Throughout the session through different games Jay began to engage and find his voice within the group contributing ideas and telling the team about his favourite comedians and TV shows.
The next morning the team’s project manager was in contact with Jay’s mother to check in with how he was feeling. She noted that they were shocked the next day, he hadn’t argued with them all morning about going to school, he happily got ready, packed his bags and got in the car with his Dad. He then spoke all the way to school in the car about his experience the previous night and how excited he was for the next session.
The second session of the month Jay came around and to the teams surprise shouted to his mother “I’m alright Mum, see you later!”. He decided to join the session on his own which was a delight for the team to see. As each session continued you could see the development and growth of Jay, his mum noted he’d even started getting the train from the Wirral on his own to sessions which was an incredible achievement from the difficulties he was previously facing.
“Seeing my son develop from an anxious young man who lacked confidence, to performing a stand-up routine in front of an audience was amazing. The programme gave him confidence, a safe space to talk with his peers and tutor about issues that were affecting him. It also provided respite from day to day stress and anxiety – It gave him something to smile about!”
Jay stated that he was:
- Feeling happier
- Feeling less stressed
- Feeling better about himself and his capabilities
- Helped him meet new people and make new friends
- Helped him feel less worried and anxious
- Helped him feel more confident
When asked about his time on the project Jay said: “I wanted to take part because I enjoyed doing comedy, I most enjoyed practising stand-up. I am more confident and have learnt to be comfortable in social situations. If anyone else is interested in the club I’d say don’t be nervous, everyone’s really nice. It’s helped me grow as a person and gave me a confidence boost.”