I Can & I Am

Ralph Allen school supports the “I Can and I Am” charity and we are regularly visited by their double decker bus and golden retriever Darcy. Once on board, students take part in a pizza making session on the ground floor which has been converted into a state-of-the-art kitchen by the bus sponsors, Howdens. Cooking is a proven therapeutic activity that provides an informal distraction, but also offers natural breaks for a deeper conversation to evolve.

Students then take part in a half hour workshop on the top deck of the bus where they spend time with mentors from the I Can & I Am team. The aim is that our young people will leave the session with a better understanding of their own qualities and strengths, plus one or two tools that may help them to manage their emotions and to deal with any setbacks that arise for them, or others close to them, in the future.

This is a unique experience in a positive environment where students can focus solely on themselves and their own wellbeing.

This two-minute video clip shows the bus in action and is well worth a watch