WHAT STUDENTS SAY

We work with children and young people aged 5-16, in primary and secondary schools. Here are just some of the things they have said about their experiences with AT The Bus.

“When I’m in the classroom I feel all squished… but when I’m in the studio I can stretch out my arms and be free.”

“Because of the Bus, I now come to school regularly.”

“Within five minutes of being here, I feel really calm. I used to always feel really angry and frustrated but since I've been coming here I feel so much better and have managed to control my anger a lot better.”

“I love it in here. It's relaxing and I like doing the art.”

“At the Bus I’ve learnt how to make friends.”

“This has definitely made me more confident in school. It's easier to talk in here but I think I can do it in bigger groups in the classroom now.”

“I find it difficult to talk to people about my worries at home and in school but talking here in a group where everyone is kind is easier. Coming here helps me forget all about my school worries and family worries. I can switch off and focus on my project.”

“When I know it’s a bus day I’m happy to come to school. I say to myself ‘yes it’s a bus day’. I get up early on a bus day.”

“I hope I can come here next term. I know it’s helped me a lot, I’m doing better in school.”

“I’ve had a lot of problems at home in my family… a lot of support - lots of talking therapy and counselling. I didn't like it. This, I like - the facilitator who I work with really helps me. I’m doing better.”

“I’m less disruptive in school, and I get fewer detentions since I’ve been coming to the Bus. My mum is pleased with me.”

“This is the most relaxing environment I’ve ever been in.”

“I like being able to come out of class because sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming and I like to get a chance to do art”

“I’ve never been so focused on something”

“I can’t believe I did this. My first time here!”

“The reason I like coming to the bus is in the morning I’m really tired, [and] it helps me clear my mind. And when I go to sleep at night it makes me have imagination in my dreams. I feel really happy when I do the art and bring it home. I look at my painting and say ‘that’s going to help me’”

“The painting and the music makes me happy”.

“Art makes me feel calm and relaxed. It makes me feel like I can actually think about stuff”.

“I just love the toast. I do the painting and it makes me happy, calm and relaxed. It clears out my mind and helps me when I go back to the classroom. Now it's our last session. I can remember that and keep repeating it. It is so nice at AT The Bus”.

“When I’ve been playing [computer] games at home and I come to school frustrated by games, I come here and sit on the sofa and it makes me feel calm, eating the toast makes me less hungry and then I love the painting and taking it home.”

“It makes me relax. I like art, this feels like my home.”

“When I look around and see all the beautiful stuff, it makes me relax and I forget all the stuff stuck in my brain.”

“When I do art I forget all the bad stuff. At home I can do art if I’m frustrated now."

SEE WHAT SCHOOLS SAY ABOUT OUR WORK

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