Red Balloon Worthing has opened its doors to students who have found mainstream school challenging. In many cases, these children and young people have not been in education for a year or more. Kim Anderson, head, said: “We are so excited to officially open the centre, which will offer young people who are missing from education the opportunity to raise their self esteem, get back on an academic track and in due course return to mainstream education. These children have not been excluded from school but have self-excluded because they have been severely bullied, they suffer from depression or they are socially anxious. Red Balloon Worthing is an alternative to school which concentrates on wellbeing, negotiated learning and creative and social activities.”
Dr Carrie Herbert founded the Red Balloon charity after setting up a learner centre in her own house in Cambridge 26 years ago. She said: “Bullying, abuse, mental ill-health are among the most common causes that lead young people to leave school and hide in their bedrooms. They isolate themselves from the company of others, from school and from society. Some of our students had been out of school for years and many had seriously considered suicide. The situation has escalated since the pandemic. Students’ passions, interests and issues are at the heart of our programmes at Red Balloon. We offer a timetable of roughly 50 per cent wellbeing and therapy and 50 per cent academic studies. Students negotiate their curriculum and their personal development plans to ensure their needs are being met."
1. Red Balloon Worthing
Worthing mayor Henna Chowdhury, East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton and Rachel Munday, who helped set up the centre, cut the ribbon to officially open Red Balloon Worthing. Picture: S Robards SR2210152 Photo: S Robards SR2210152
2. Red Balloon Worthing
Red Balloon Worthing, at 52 -54 Windsor Road, is for children who have self-excluded from school after severe bullying or trauma, or who have mental health issues Photo: S Robards SR2210152
3. Red Balloon Worthing
Ollie Kendall, deputy head and special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCo) Photo: S Robards SR2210152
4. Red Balloon Worthing
Inside Red Balloon Worthing, where students’ passions, interests and issues are at the heart of the programme in a homely environment Photo: S Robards SR2210152