"Sophia really enjoys attending the Tuesday sessions because she is able to take part in an activity that she loves while being authentically herself. Sophia's attendance in the group has massively helped not just her, but us as a whole family. Sophia has depression and anxiety, which significantly impact her daily life. The sessions allow her to keep her mind distracted with like-minded people who share her interests. She doesn’t have to hide who she is and can be herself without prejudice.
At school, she masks all day just to make it through, but when she is with the other children at “film club,” as Sophia calls it, she comes home completely relaxed and full of chat! The change in Sophia since she started attending has been incredible. She is confident, happy, and willing to take part in group activities, which is something that has been difficult for her since a very young age. I will never be able to thank the group leaders enough for supporting Sophia and noticing when she isn’t quite herself. It allows me to feel confident that she is being looked after extremely well.
Seeing Sophia happy has been so lovely after seeing her so sad and down for such a long time. I will forever be grateful not only for the technical skills she is learning but also for the social skills she has gained and the happiness the group brings her."
At school, she masks all day just to make it through, but when she is with the other children at “film club,” as Sophia calls it, she comes home completely relaxed and full of chat! The change in Sophia since she started attending has been incredible. She is confident, happy, and willing to take part in group activities, which is something that has been difficult for her since a very young age. I will never be able to thank the group leaders enough for supporting Sophia and noticing when she isn’t quite herself. It allows me to feel confident that she is being looked after extremely well.
Seeing Sophia happy has been so lovely after seeing her so sad and down for such a long time. I will forever be grateful not only for the technical skills she is learning but also for the social skills she has gained and the happiness the group brings her."

Katie Collins
Parent
"I have been working with Paul and his filmmaking team for many years and have seen the power of film making in education. Students simply thrive when given the challenge of writing, filming, producing, editing and promoting their own films. They work as young leaders and develop their practical, creative and technical skills. Most importantly, they feel proud of their work and see the tangible, successful outcomes. Young people’s confidence grows. And, they have fun!"

Nicola Shelley
Suffolk School Leader
"We have the pleasure of permitting our son to attend the Offshoots Foundation workshop designed for teens with additional needs. Both we and our son have found the workshops beneficial and well facilitated by all the staff who give their time to this service. The workshop gives our son the opportunity to explore something he is interested in, and the environment provided helps him learn another skill and gain new opportunities.
We have no hesitation in recommending the Offshoot Foundation to other families with teen students who would like to learn in this field."

Caroline Pettit
Parent
"Very simply put, if Offshoot did not exist to me then I do not think I would be working as a teacher now. The charity not only provided me with the invaluable experience of working with young people regularly across a week, it also enabled me to practice skills in project management, problem solving and creativity all in a way that is easily transferrable into the teaching industry. A few years ago, immediately after I graduated I tried working in the city and ended up spending a week of my holiday volunteering at Offshoot. That week was pivotal in inspiring me to make the career change into teaching. Four years later, here I am! And I will be forever grateful for Offshoot because of this. "

Will Dodd
Teacher
"Hope had the most amazing week at the Beccles workshop! This is the first time she has ever been willing to go to any sort of holiday club or extra-curricular activity of any kind without someone she knows and she thoroughly enjoyed herself and is so proud of her little animation films (which are rather cute!). We have seen such a difference in her this week, her confidence levels have soared!"

Claire Abbs
Designer
We first came across The Offshoot Foundation in early summer 2023. My son, Kieron, and our family were going through a particularly difficult and traumatic period at that time.
Kieron was about to enter Year 10, having chosen Drama, Creative iMedia, and Media Studies as his GCSE options to pursue his career path as an actor. He is a member of our local theatre youth group and has been involved in several productions. When we saw that the workshops were available locally, we jumped at the chance to sign him up. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, as it gave him an advantage when he started Creative iMedia.
He has now participated in five blocks of the workshops, which have significantly boosted his confidence and broadened his vision for the future. He can now see the possibilities of working behind the scenes as well. The activities organized by the facilitators have greatly assisted him with his schoolwork, and he is predicted to achieve top grades in his chosen subjects.
I cannot thank the entire Offshoot team enough for supporting him over the past year, helping him gain confidence in his schoolwork, and expanding his extracurricular activities. They have always been incredibly sensitive to his needs, especially when he felt vulnerable, and are well-trained to work with young people with diverse needs (Kieron is currently being assessed for ADHD). He is very much looking forward to supporting the younger participants in future workshops.

Andrea Carr
Parent