Covid had a huge impact on all of our lives, it changed the world as we knew it. For many that world went back to normal but for us it is yet to.

RGS is our 15 year old son. One of 4 siblings ranging in age from 2-19.

A much loved child who sadly has been unable to leave the house at ALL since 4th July 2023. We would love your help to try and change this. To make our outside space safe and welcoming for RGS to begin exposure therapy.

RGS has shown traits of being neurodiverse since a very young age. Mainly sensory and food wise. It did not impact his school life or him socially so we didn't as parents take it any further. Never needing to seek outside support. Everything that made him "different" was what we loved about him. His honesty and black and white mentality drew all of his peers to him. He was a very popular, sporty child, excelling at school.

In March 2020, We welcomed a 2nd sibling for RGS. We also went into our first Lockdown. We as a family took this very serious to protect everyone, especially our new born and various vunerable family members.

Whilst other people found ways to connect online, RGS seemed to struggle with these activities. We first noticed it when his football coach would encourage them all to do online workouts/ challenges. He refused to film himself or to go on facetime to do these. It also impacted his online schooling. Whilst many were thriving with the new way of life, cracks were beginning to show and he was loosing more and more contact with his friends and the outside world, along with the fitness needing to compete in elite sport.

When Lockdown eased, RGS seemed excited to return to normality and school. To see his friends and go back to all of his sporting activities. However when reality hit, he struggled massively. He started getting into "trouble" at school. Walking out or hiding in the toilets. He did not seem to be coping at all with the change of routine.

The daily and weekly updates from the government often changing bubbles and relaxing/tightening seemed to increase his anxiety and OCD traits began creeping in.

RGS has been out of school since Easter 2023. Following a meeting in early July 2023 at school to discuss his attendance and medical issues, he has refused to leave the house since.

The toddlers can not remember ever being outside with their brother

The cant swim, run, holiday or share ice creams in the sun with him. His older brother cant take him for drives or to show off his new car to him. He has never seen his siblings preschools or workplace.

RGS has been unable to engage in any of the support he currently has been offered. Although many provisions need him to actually leave the house to help.

We would love if you could help us to make our garden secure from on looking neighbours, so we can look to start as a family doing exposure therapy with RGS.

Having spoke to charities and sought advice from others suffering from issues like his. We propose/ hope to do the following:

We would like to level our garden and either turf/patio or fake grass a area directly outside our property and most importantly add a metal secure pergola type item with fitted shutters on all sides. Hopefully we can fill it with enticing activities for him to do with his siblings.

We will then expose very very slowly the outside world to the in. Inch by inch, shutter by shutter.

Please help my children make memories together outside, not just in.

Who knows what the world could hold for RGS if we can just get him outside

Thankyou!!

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds, or surplus funds, then the funds will be used, if appropriate, to fund support for our child’s needs in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objects. If in those circumstances we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objectives, then any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to be used for the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.