Freddie's Journey to Confidence at Skills Club

When Sophie first brought her son Freddie to Sparkle's Skills Club, she hoped it would help him feel more confident around other children facing similar challenges.

What she didn't expect was just how much of a difference it would make.

'Freddie was a shy boy who would always be held back by his fear of not being understood,' Sophie
explains. 'He'd want to join in so much but lacked the confidence to go for it.'

Knowing how much Freddie loves football and being active, Sophie thought Skills Club could be the perfect place for him. Having heard about the sessions at Serennu and the support they offer, she hoped seeing other children with their own challenges would help him realise he wasn't alone.

From the moment he joined, Freddie's enthusiasm for sport shone through. Skills Supervisor Tom describes him as 'one of the most energetic individuals' in the Wednesday Skills group, adding that he has 'an overwhelming love for football' and throws himself into every activity '100%'.

Today, Freddie looks forward to every session.

'He skips into club every time and tells me all about what they've done on our way home,' says Sophie. 'He gets involved and genuinely looks forward to club.'

While Freddie has always loved being active, Tom has seen his confidence grow alongside his physical skills.
 

'He listens well and follows instructions before putting his own flair on the skills, showing his growing confidence,' says Tom. 'There's also been a noticeable improvement in his physical abilities. Recently, while playing basketball, he's gone from saying, "I can't do it," to becoming a very competent shooter and scorer. We've seen that improvement across many of the activities we do at Skills.'

For Sophie, it's Freddie's confidence that has made the biggest difference.
 

'Freddie has made massive progress. His confidence has flourished beyond anything we could have imagined.' Rather than pointing to one particular moment, she says it's Freddie's overall attitude that has transformed. 'His overall attitude has just completely changed for the positive. It's really given him a sense of empowerment.'

For Sophie, Skills Club is about much more than activities. It's about knowing Freddie is somewhere he feels understood, supported and able to be himself. 'He feels safe and I feel safe when he's there, and there's a lot to be said for that.'

 

Tom agrees, describing Freddie as a joy to have at the club. 'He's always great to have in Skills and he's always the first to show me up too!' he laughs.

Asked what she would say to another family considering Skills Club, Sophie's answer is simple.

'If you're thinking of joining then please just go for it. All the staff have been so brilliant and Freddie really enjoys being with them.'

Freddie's story is a reminder that confidence doesn't always appear overnight. Sometimes, it grows through encouragement, belonging and having the chance to keep trying. At Sparkle's Skills Club, those small steps can become life-changing milestones for children and their families.

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