Red Balloon Learner Centre Group

Red Balloon’s vision is that every child who is missing an education because of bullying has access to a safe learning environment such as a Red Balloon.

Red Balloon currently has four Centres operating in the UK as well as a virtual "Red Balloon of the Air". Red Balloon works with Local Authorities, schools, parents and teachers to help severely bullied children, half of whom have considered or attempted suicide, to recover from the effects of their experiences.

• Red Balloon’s ground-breaking programme recovers 95% of the children attending for six weeks or longer
• The median length of stay at Red Balloon is one year
• Students learn how to protect themselves from bullying, recognise when it happens to others, and know ways of dealing with behavior of this kind
• The cost of recovering a child at Red Balloon is £18,000 a year
• The cost of not recovering a bullied child stands at well over £1,000,000 during their lifetime
• Severely bullied children are often referred to places where the bullies are sent
• 75% of Red Balloon students recovered enough to take five GCSEs gain 5 A* - C grades
• 32% of Red Balloon leavers return to school
• 47% of Red Balloon leavers go on to college
• 30% of these then go to university

Former students now include; university graduates, a police officer, a city trader, a coachbuilder, an actor, a car mechanic, a jeweller, an art historian and an NGO worker.

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Samuel

I have been attending Red Balloon for little over two years now. Looking at my past self, it is difficult to properly perceive how far I have come in that space of time. Before I was at Red Balloon, I was unable to attend school, walk out of my house or even talk to people outside of my family. Now, two years on I have spoken publicly, attended live radio interviews and even performed in front of a crowd. I can safely say that that I am confident in my abilities both socially and educationally.

I am due to attend college next year, to do A-levels in Maths, Physics and Psychology. I have been able to attend taster classes of thirty or so students, and have made many friends while at Red Balloon. I can confidently say that Red Balloon has helped me forge a brighter future for myself, and for that I am eternally grateful.

A few years ago I would have never believed that I would get anywhere. All I had ever wanted from a school, was the opportunity to learn, without the problems bullying brings. Red Balloon has given me that and so much more.

Stephanie

When you first start secondary school no one tells you how to act or how to be, no one tells you anything really. No one tells you shouldn’t be generous or that if someone won’t give you your money back you shouldn’t tell a teacher. Being over generous was one of my serious faults in secondary school.

When I couldn’t lend any more money that’s when the bullying started. They called me names, then the teacher’s started patronizing me so I couldn’t talk to anyone. Then the bullying got even worse and I’d go home crying. I was physically sick and begged my mum not to send me to school any more. I couldn’t concentrate or learn so my grades went down. Time and time again I was moved down a class until I was in the bottom set.

Finally my mum took me out of school. After six months she found Red Balloon. Since I started coming here I haven’t been sick once and I haven’t wanted to take a day off school. My favourite thing about Red Balloon is the lessons. They’re fun and the fact that we’re tutored one-to-one means that I’ve been able to pick up on over two years work in less than three months.

Red Balloon has helped me recover. I will not try to be people’s friends in a false way. People will either like me or not. But I’m strong enough now. I know what I want in a friend and I’ll seek some out in my new school.

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