Below, Imie James, a pupil in Lower 6th, recounts her experience volunteering for local charity, Able 2 Be which supports children and adults with disabilities. She explains how you can get involved, or support this amazing cause with a donation. Read on to find out more!
"I first heard about how to become an Able 2B volunteer at the Royal Norfolk Show last year, a chance to work with children and young people with disabilities and special needs. As a result, I got in touch and have now been volunteering with them for the past 11 months. I am also very proud to now be an Able 2B Ambassador, a cause I feel very passionate about and want to help promote. Volunteering for Able2B has proved to be one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. The children I have worked with are truly amazing and it has certainly not only changed my perception, but also taught me so much about what being disabled actually means. For those of you who don't know, Able 2B is a community interest company that works with children and adults who have disabilities. It is situated on the Gilchrist Industrial Estate in Tuckswood, Norwich and was co-founded in 2017 by Rachael Hutchinson, an orthopaedic surgical consultant, and Jon Thaxton, a retired boxer and personal trainer.
My first experience of volunteering at Able 2B was at their 2022 Summer Holiday Camp, held at Harford Manor School, over 4 weeks. I then went back to volunteer at the 2022 Christmas Holiday Camp and then again for the 2023, two-week Easter Camp. At the camps I have had the privilege to work with children of different ages who have complex needs and physical disabilities. I have had a wonderful time and learnt so much. Each day is always different and, as a volunteer, you will find yourself assisting and encouraging the children with a variety of activities, including use of outdoor gym equipment, bicycles, playing ball games, making music, constructing with Lego, decorating cakes and colouring. You will also assist them at lunchtime as well as helping them get ready to go home. The time really does fly by, but I cannot begin to put into words how rewarding the experience is. Small things mean a lot and to have a child smile when you help them or be pleased to see you again is absolutely priceless! I have had a wonderful time volunteering at the holiday camps . For instance, I have learnt how to develop different communication strategies, such as signing with a non-verbal communicator. I have also learnt about and seen how a sensory room can bring calm and comfort to a child with sensory processing issues who is feeling tired or overstimulated. Volunteering with Able2B has also allowed me to develop teamwork skills with the staff and other volunteers being really supportive, always helping and encouraging each other. It has also helped me to gain in confidence by teaching me the skills and resilience needed to deal with challenging situations and to always expect the unexpected.
On May 13th, Able 2B held a Grand Opening Day to celebrate its progress and to officially open its Swim Spa Room for water-based training. It was a great day and wonderful to see so many people in attendance. During the day, I also had the opportunity to help with a boxing fitness session at the gym, something I had only done once before during my summer experience. Although I found it a little daunting to start with, helping people with disabilities work out and train was not only a privilege, but I also experienced first-hand what the impact and benefits of being able to exercise can have on a person with disability. I hope that in the future I will be able to gain further experience of volunteering at the gym.
The service that Able 2B offers is totally unique, being the only one that does so in the UK. Not enough people know about the amazing work Rachel Hutchinson, Jon Thaxton and their team do, but we at Norwich School can not only help by giving up some of our time to volunteer, but also by supporting the collection on Sports Day this year. The more money we can help them raise, the more people Able 2B will be able to support and help.
My next volunteering venture for Able 2B will be at the 2023 Discover Your Ability Event in June, with the main challenge event taking place in the grounds of the Lower School on Sunday 11th June. This is an opportunity to work with a child who has special educational needs, in a series of three team building events at the Able 2B Gym, culminating in completion of the challenge together at the Lower School. This could be a walk, a run or doing a lap on a bicycle successfully with a partner. As an Able 2B volunteer and Ambassador, I really hope to get as many people as possible involved; there are so many reasons to do so! Take it from me, volunteering with Able 2B is an amazing opportunity. Working with the children will teach you so much, not only about yourself, but also about disability. You will gain in confidence and help to change the public perception of disability by understanding what is possible if you truly believe. You will meet new people, make new friends and the staff and other volunteers are really supportive. You will get to know your partner, learn how to work together, break down pre-conceptions, make friendships and raise awareness of the importance of inclusivity and how it can be achieved.
Please join to discover your own ability by taking part is this most amazing event and discover things about yourself that you never knew. You will not only be helping to change the perception of disability but will also be helping your local community! Come on, make a difference. If you embrace this opportunity, you never know where it might lead. Like me, you might like to become an Able 2B volunteer. You won't regret it!
In the meantime in order to help with this event there is a Just Giving Page, so if you can, please donate to this amazing charity and if not come and support myself (Imie), Edoardo and Ben at the event on the 11th June.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/able2b-dya2023
Thank you so much in advance."