Jack is a 25-year-old male who has been a Mahdlo member since September 2014, when he was 16, and has attended almost 300 Senior Zone sessions. Jack was initially referred to Mahdlo by Young Carers. Jack has Autistic Spectrum Condition and Dyspraxia.
Jack has always been a lovely young man. He cared for his mother and lived with his grandmother, who cared for him. In July 2020, Jack’s mother sadly passed away. In February 2021, Jack’s grandmother passed away and in October 2022 his Auntie too.
In two years, Jack suffered a significant personal loss and, for the first time, had to live alone.
He completed his degree in Graphic Design in July 2020, but graduation was delayed until October 2022. Jack has been a consistent attendee in the last couple of years and is very popular amongst his peer group. He is a very gentle and caring person who always supports the people around him.
I do not doubt that he is now in a position to push on and achieve in whatever he chooses to put his efforts towards in his time as Mahdlo alumni
The last few months have seen Jack really throw himself into the opportunities available at Mahdlo. From supporting our Community Christmas Fair, where he and his friends prepared an enterprise stall to raise funds for Mahdlo, to co-writing and performing in a piece of drama at the Arts Slam in December 2022, Jack has brought a new level of confidence to his time at Mahdlo and takes every opportunity he can to express himself in areas that before, he might not have accessed.
He is a great encourager and supporter, he’s made genuine positive relationships with staff and other young people and is keen to get involved with activities on offer. He will sing and dance to his heart’s content in front of others. In the Senior Zone Christmas party, he sang and danced in front of others in the Chill Zone!
Jack has faced a lot of challenges and hardships in his personal life, but the way he has just held his head high and continued positively with life is just beautiful.
As Jack starts to reach an age where he’ll be moving on from Mahdlo, he has developed into an incredibly confident individual with the skills to succeed. I do not doubt that he is now in a position to push on and achieve in whatever he chooses to put his efforts towards in his time as Mahdlo alumni.