27/05/2026
Have you ever wondered how Learning Space can help our young people?
Here's one story!
A girl joined our ND Patchworking Garden Group, a 9 session outdoor programme for children and young people with neurodiverse (ND) needs. She was referred due to anxiety, including emotional and separation anxiety, which were affecting her confidence and ability to take part independently.
How We Helped
We supported her through a gentle, relationship based approach that helped her feel safe and gradually build confidence within the group. As she became more familiar with the staff and environment, she engaged more fully in activities and formed a positive friendship, strengthening her sense of belonging. When she had to miss a session, she felt very sad—showing how meaningful and secure the group had become for her.
Using Play to Understand Anxiety (Fight / Flight / Freeze)
One activity Isla particularly enjoyed was the “Rabbits and Foxes” game, which explores fight, flight and freeze responses through play. She engaged well and began developing her own strategies within the game, showing increased understanding and growing confidence.
Personalised Regulation Toolkit
Because abstract conversations about feelings don’t always land for neurodiverse children, we focused on practical, hands on activities to make emotions and coping strategies more concrete. Isla took part in activities such as:
• Making a sensory bottle to support mindfulness and calming
• Learning breathing techniques through “hot chocolate breathing” (drinking hot chocolate slowly and noticing the smell)
• Discussing how anxiety impacts us and exploring different ways of managing it.
• Creating a plan for a coping/sensory box to use at home (what could go in it and how to use it)
• Receiving a keyring at the end of the programme capturing positive things other group members had said about her.
Having real, physical tools helped Isla recognise what worked for her and made it easier to use strategies outside of the sessions.
The Difference It Made
She made clear progress using Goal Based Outcomes (a simple 1–10 scale showing how well things are going from the child’s perspective):
• Confidence improved from 4 → 8 (10 being the best things can be)
• Understanding emotions improved from 5 → 8 (10 being the best things can be)
• Happiness improved from 2 → 8 (10 being the best things can be)
Over the programme, Isla showed more confidence in group situations, a better understanding of her emotions and anxiety, an increased ability to use coping strategies, and growing resilience to speak up for herself. She also developed a positive friendship and a stronger sense of belonging.
Thank you to Isla’s mum, who is an artist, for creating the beautiful card of our staff at the garden.
