Oak works in schools in the Letchworth Garden City community and is about coming alongside children who are disadvantaged through social and behavioural challenges or Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Our vision is to help these children to change the course of their lives by enabling them to overcome their difficulties and grow into people who play a full, positive and beneficial role in society, and not become marginalised, disadvantaged or even criminalised.
The image of an Oak tree powerfully symbolises this vision; it represents solid, significant and lasting growth and achievement in the lives of children.
Oak is also about helping teaching staff, who are frequently faced with the challenge of balancing the inclusive care and support of increasing numbers of children with Special Educational Needs, while maintaining the progress of the rest of the children in their charge.
Oak’s main worker is Judy Rees. Judy initially qualified as a Nursery Nurse and then gained an Honours degree majoring in Children’s work. She has been working with children in Letchworth since 1997 including full time posts at Westbury School (2 years) and Woolgrove Moderate Learning Difficulties School (3 years). She also spent 2 years as Crèche Manager for Cannons Health Club in Letchworth and has also worked with children on various short term projects including holiday clubs in the UK, Romania and the Philippines, and with street Children in Mexico City.
Judy has been developing the Oak project since 2008, working with Woolgrove, Westbury, Icknield , Wilbury, Pixmore and Garden City Academy schools in Letchworth Garden City and Wilshere-Dacre school in Hitchin.
You can learn more about Oak here.