✨ Touriya and Jamilah ✨

When Touriya first joined Centre 404 she was feeling lost and struggling to navigate services to get the help she needed to put support in place for her 26-year-old daughter Jamilah who has autism. As a result, her own wellbeing was being neglected.

In her own words, Touriya explains “before being introduced to Centre 404 I was having a very difficult time in navigating my everyday life, I felt helpless and depressed.”

Touriya was supported by her caseworker at Centre 404 to access support and advice, which helped give Jamilah a dedicated support team, including Positive Behaviour Support with our in-house PBS team.

This has been so positive for both mother and daughter as Jamilah has a wider range of support and activities and Touriya has more valuable respite time for herself.

Touriya reflected on this: “I have been introduced to a number of new people and they made me feel that I was not alone and that we are all in this together…The extra support that I have been receiving has been a great help and has relieved some pressure off me. They have put so much effort into helping me. I would like to thank Centre 404 for everything that they have done and continue to do for myself and my family.”

✨ Lameen ✨

On 14th March our amazing service user Lameen turned 18 years old! He has been attending Centre 404 since he was just 6 years old, and he currently attends our Aiming High Wednesday after school club.

This week we’d planned a socially distanced birthday dance party to celebrate his birthday, as Lameen loves music and dancing and spending time with his mates at Aiming High.

However, Lameen was advised by his GP to shield until the end of March, which means that he missed coming to Centre 404 every Wednesday and returning to school, and was very disappointed that he would not be able to attend his own party!

…So we decided to bring the party to him! His Aiming High mates bought him some balloons and made him a card and a poster. Then on Wednesday we all drove to his house in the minibus and had a drive-by party and sing-a-long just for Lameen!

Now that he is 18, Lameen has transitioned from our Children & Young People Service and will receive support from our Finding & Matching Personal Budgets service which supports adults 18 years and older. Lameen is an example of the long-term support that Centre 404 provides.

Happy 18th Birthday Lameen!!! 🥳😆💫🎂

✨ China ✨

China has been attending our clubs for 10 years, since she was just 10 years old! She loves music, singing and dancing. She recently received a Young Catalyst Award and used her grant to purchase these fabulous and fashionable headphones. She will use these headphones to listen to music and practice singing and writing songs.

China also recently started volunteering within our Learning & Leisure Service. She works with Clubs during school holidays and after school, supporting younger children and helping support workers.

Congratulations China and keep up the great work! 🙌😎💫