Elliott, 16 – VIY learner heads to Southend United

A VIY Volunteer in Southend

Elliott, 16, volunteered at VIY’s project at Eastwood Community Centre, Southend-on-Sea, after one of his friends was referred to the programme.

Elliott is a neurodivergent young person, who finds new experiences daunting and was lacking direction, generally feeling lost and anxious in life but felt comfortable to attend the project knowing his friend would also be there. He wants to get out and try new things, but in a ‘safe’ way. He was at risk of disengagement from mainstream education due to these factors. His mother was also feeling uneasy about his future. He is also an avid football fan and a Southend United season ticket holder.

Thanks to onwards progression support from VIY’s team and local network, Elliott is enrolled on the Level 2 Sport programme with the Southend United Educational Foundation – a brilliant next step in his journey.