I am Lisa McClure the founder of Waratah where we offer a range of individual and group mentoring to meet the needs of teenagers and young people.

I was a teacher for 30 years, I spent the first 20 years of my career as a History and Modern Studies teacher, working in Fife and East Lothian.

I moved to Support for Learning 10 years ago.

I have spent the last 9 years working in ASN schools, mostly in a Communication Provision, where the needs of learners are primarily associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and may have needs that are associated with a level and pace of learning significantly below that of their peers (across all areas of the curriculum). These needs are complex and require a significantly modified learning environment.

I have also spent some time working in mainstream schools, working in the Behaviour Support Department.

Lisa has practised yoga for 30 years and is a Reiki practitioner.

One of the biggest changes I have seen in young people over the past 30 years is huge mental health challenges. We know as parents, about the many reasons, but the key has to lie in being far more proactive, by giving our children from the earliest stages the language to understand emotions and teaching them strategies to cope with difficult times without restoring to self-destructive behaviours.

Over the past 10 years, I have been asked by friends to provide emotional support for their teenagers. I have mentored young people who are self-harming; not communicating at all with their parents in a positive way; struggling to study; are stuck in the wrong degree or job and helped with personal statements for further education.

My most cherished role will always be that of a mother to a brave, kind son who had huge challenges at primary school with his unusual dyslexia.

We have all faced huge challenges during the pandemic, but I believe we are only beginning to see the true impact on many of our young people.

My main takeaway was this

‘Covid has been a connection breaker – connection is vital for us as human beings, for some it has resulted in real trauma.

Dr Stephen Porges describes ‘ Trauma is a chronic disruption of connection.’

Mentoring with Waratah will help to heal in a safe, kind space.

It will provide a tool kit that the young person and parent(s) will be able to use to move through the huge challenges of navigating a path through teenage, and young adulthood. I am just part of the jigsaw but will be one of the anchors to help your young person to be all they can be.

There is a beautiful African proverb I love –  IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO RAISE A CHILD