Celebrating Thomas-A Budding Author at the Children's & Young Person Centre
We have always celebrated the achievements and milestones of our service users at the Children's and Young Person Centre. Today, we are thrilled to share a particularly heart-warming story of one of our young users, Thomas, who has achieved something truly remarkable: he has written and published his very own book.
Thomas, who is 13 years old, has been diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Moderate Learning Difficulties, and more recently, trauma. Due to the challenges he faced, Thomas has been out of school for nearly two years. The school environment became too difficult for him to manage after experiencing trauma from restraint. However, during this time away from school, Thomas discovered a new passion that has transformed his life: writing.
Writing has become an essential outlet for Thomas, allowing him to channel his incredible imagination and creativity. His journey from struggling to write anything at all to becoming a published author is nothing short of inspirational. His first book, a testament to his resilience and talent, has now been shared with our Children's and Young Person Centre based at Norwich Community Hospital.
On Friday 28 June, Thomas presented a copy of his book to the centre, ensuring that other children who come here can enjoy his work and find inspiration in his story. Our manager, Kevin Barnard, had the honour of receiving the book from Thomas during a special photo opportunity. To commemorate this occasion, Kevin presented Thomas with a handmade book token crafted by his wife. The exchange was a touching moment, symbolising the support and encouragement we strive to offer each child in our care.
Thomas’s book is just the beginning. He is already hard at work on his next project: an action-adventure book geared toward older children. This is a significant leap for Thomas, showcasing his growth as a writer and his boundless imagination.
Thomas’s story encourages us all to look beyond difficulties and see the unique gifts and abilities that every young person possesses.
We are immensely proud of Thomas and look forward to reading his future works. You can view his book online here.