A South African visitor recently asked to meet some of our early ‘guinea pig’ clients so we set up a dinner and invited along a few of our early research clients from six years ago. Please bear in mind I am used to meeting clients who have completed our programme and are absolutely delighted - but that didn’t prepare me for what I was about to experience.
All five who came to the dinner had had their school life completely transformed. At the time of going through the programme three, who were in their early teens, had been told that they were unlikely to achieve many, if any, GCSEs at 16. The first shock was that all three of them are now at university - the eldest being in her final year and expecting to achieve a First Class Honours Degree. The other two were studying Law and Sports Science. In every case this was way beyond their wildest dreams six year’s ago.
The next shock I got was regarding their sporting achievements. Out of the five there four of them had shown no interest in sport at the time of going through the programme. The fifth was performing well in her chosen sport. But now - two of them are champions at National level in their sport, two others are competing in sports at National level and the fifth is playing County Level cricket! It all goes to show that when you increase the brain’s ability to automatize skills it doesn’t just help you in your school work!
So during the dinner the hair on the back of my neck was standing on end! Don’t worry - I soon came down to earth. As I walked back into the office I faced a letter from a professor saying that the programme didn’t work. Why oh why don’t some of these researchers get out of their ivory towers and talk to the people who matter, the people who were suffering from all sorts of learning issues whose lives have been dramatically helped.
So - does this story give you a clue about some very exciting things we are working with sport? I will tell you soon but I can’t just yet because if I did I would have to ……..…………………….
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1 comment:
Hi,
I have heard about all the charitable work you have been doing.
Is it true that you are funding this out of your own pocket and that Dore is running at a loss?
K
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