Oliver's story

A play about a 15-year old boy who uses a wheelchair inspired young people from Berkshire schools to learn about health and social care at South Hill Park Arts Centre.

Care professionals discussed his situation with the students and showed the young students lots of ways that they can make a difference to Oliver’s life and his family’s.

Oliver’s story, performed by Spotlight on Diversity, tracks an ambitious and active boy’s adjustment to life with a wheelchair following an accident.

Now in its 3rd year Oliver’s story enjoyed its most successful run yet, playing to around 150 local students.

Keiran Holler, 16, from Reading came from Highdown School & Sixth Form Centre to watch the play:

"It was really good. It made me think about what I would do in the same situation, and it helped to see them think of ways to get around the problems.

"I would really like to go into social care and today has made me want to more."

Ali Carroll, from Spotlight on Diversity, said:

“We believe in drama as an accessible, fun and interesting way to introduce and explore ideas.  We feel the aim of this project - to empower young people to make informed choices - complements our own aims.”

After talking with the professionals, the students worked with a Care Ambassador and Student Ambassador to give group presentations to show what they’d learnt from the day.

Cheryl Spence, Care Programme Manager at Bracknell & Wokingham College, said:

“Now they’ve seen and discussed the methods involved in care work, we hope the day will be a springboard for them to take it further with their academic and career choices.

“We hope the students will leave better able to manage the challenges posed by disability in their own lives."