Background
When Bill first joined Impact Arts through our CashBack programme, they were facing significant challenges.
Living with autism and heightened sensory responses, everyday environments had become overwhelming. Once highly active, attending school regularly, participating in sports, and even achieving success as a competitive swimmer, Bill had reached a point where leaving their room felt difficult.
Creative spaces became a vital pathway back.
Progress
At the beginning, Bill attended sessions with the support of a parent nearby, a familiar presence that helped create a sense of safety.
Over time, that need reduced.
What started as short, supported visits gradually became full days spent independently with the group, building confidence step by step, at a pace that worked for them.
Through art, Bill found a way to engage, express, and connect.
During a visit to the Hunterian Museum, they spent nearly an hour sketching a painting by Joan Eardley, fully immersed, calm, and focused.
Back in sessions, they explored different materials and techniques, adapting activities to suit their needs, from using gloves when working with clay to taking space when feeling overstimulated.
Creative expression became both a tool and an outlet. As the weeks progressed, something shifted.
Moments of uncertainty became moments of participation.
Bill began engaging more with others, sharing interests, encouraging peers, and showing pride in their work. A photography session in particular sparked visible joy, marking a turning point in their confidence and self-expression.
Even when challenges arose, including moments of sensory distress, Bill was supported in a way that prioritised understanding and consistency. Over time, they developed strategies to self-regulate and continue engaging.
Future plans
By the end of the programme, Bill had attended every session.
They had built connections, explored new environments, and grown in confidence, even navigating a busy showcase event independently.
Now, they are taking their next steps:
- Returning to CashBack for further creative development
- Progressing toward Impactful Starts, Impact Arts’ employability programme
- Enrolling in a filmmaking course at the Glasgow Film Theatre
They also achieved an SQA Personal Development award, creating a piece of work based on a clay object they designed and made.
