Lisa from Reading

I first spoke to Lyn Oualah when she called me to invite me on a PPP parenting course – I had been referred to her by social services as I was in crisis managing the behaviour of my 15 year old son who has Asperger’s Syndrome. The next time I heard her voice at the end of the phone she was calling me from the police station – my son had been arrested for assaulting a police officer during a meltdown. I was desperate and had exhausted all avenues to try to help and keep my son safe. “Don’t worry” she said in a calm and confident voice “I am going to help you” – and how she did! Over the next few years Lyn coached and nurtured both me and my son through an often frightful roller-coaster ride from him going into care, to court, adapting to a basic college course, getting work experience and finally finding employment. From coaching basic life skills to preparing us for judgement day in court where my son was being prosecuted for assault on a carer during a meltdown, sometimes on the darkest of days, Lyn kept us on track, continually coaching and supporting us. Every hurdle she jumped with us. Her energy in her work to help us was quiet relentless and over time even my son got to trust and listen to her. After she stopped officially working with us when D reached the age of 18 she remained there for us in time of need and has become a well loved and respected friend. I am eternally grateful for the day Lyn made that phone call to us back in 2011. In the words of my son “Lyn Oualah – legend!”