There are moments in life that quietly arrive without much Drama or fanfare. Moments when you realise that a chapter you’ve been writing for years has reached its natural conclusion and this week, I made the decision ( at the end of this academic year) to step away from my weekly volunteering in schools after 11 years.
Eleven years!!! Writing that down feels surreal.
What started as a way to give something back became a huge part of my life.
Every week, I’d walk through those school gates with a box of craft supplies, a plan (usually!), and the excitement of seeing what the kids and I would create. I’ve watched tiny Reception children grow into confident senior school pupils. I’ve met incredible teachers, wonderful staff, and had the privilege of being part of countless, wonderful school memories.
I’ve also worked for some absolute shockers too, but thats another story 😉
From art sessions, Awesome Archie’s connection Club and messy projects to assemblies, themed weeks, and everything in between, it’s been a joy.
But life has seasons.
Our family life is ever changing, and as Archie grows , so do his needs and right now I feel that my time needs to look a little different. As difficult as this decision has been, I know it’s the right one. I can no longer commit to donating one day every week, and that’s okay.
Over the last 5 years it has also been incredibly disheartening to spend hours creating and emailing FREE resources, supporting neurodivergent children, to literally hundreds of schools to realise that only the same small handful ever take a moment to even reply or acknowledge the work given to support them. Unsurprisingly that has meant that I have somewhat lost my love for the education sector 🙁
To those schools that HAVE used our free resources / had us for assemblies etc…. THANKYOU! x
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is recognise when it’s time to let go of something good to make space for what’s needed the most. Archie is becoming an adult, but obviously his needs don’t diminish, in many ways things get tougher. So his development, his life experiences and our family as a whole deserve more than I have had time to give .
While this chapter is closing, another is flourishing. NeuroCreative Media ( my small business) continues to slowly grow , and our Brand new Etsy store means these resources are still reaching the children who need them—just through a different path.
https://neurocreativemedia.etsy.com
We also will continue to support parents via our non profit as heaven knows , we all need the help!
I’m simply closing one chapter, not the whole book and looking back, I feel nothing but gratitude.
Thank you to every member of staff who welcomed me into their classrooms. Particularly Mr Croutear ( Head of the Priory School). Thank you to every child who proudly showed me their masterpiece, made me laugh, or reminded me why creativity and neuroaffirmation matters so much. Thank you for trusting me to be a small part of your school journey.
Eleven years is a long time. It’s become part of who I am and walking away feels emotional because it mattered. But endings aren’t always sad. Sometimes they’re simply a sign that life is moving forward.
So here’s to the next chapter. To new routines, new priorities, and making sure I’m where I’m needed most.
And to “those” school gates… thank you for 11 wonderful years.
End of an era. But not the end of the story.