Here are a growing range of testimonials from PASTEL stakeholders- starting with the clients and their parent/carers. Others will follow later in 2008.

Spring 07

Here is some early feedback from clients:

• "It gets you out for the day and you meet new friends."

• " I like making new friends and acting. I'm learning to behave better."

• " It's fun and people come to play with us."

• "It's good fun to do."

• "I like PASTEL".

• "I like truffling*."   (* = "truffling" is a drama technique for creating new ideas as a team activity.)

Summer 07

Here is some early feedback from parent/carers:

PASTEL

• "(PASTEL is) excellent - it is very much needed in this area.It provides young people with useful training activities they enjoy, a chance to mix socially - things which will help them grow in confidence and help in their future lives."

• "(PASTEL) communication, planning - excellent"

• "I am very pleased with (PASTEL's) progress to date. It definitely fills a gap in terms of training/social activity/respite."

• "PASTEL is a great idea. Kids are kids - special needs or not and we need to teach them life skills so they can cope outside."

• " I think PASTEL is a brilliant group that caters for young adults with learning difficulties. It is also really good to have this in OUR area!"

• "Overall. the objectives are excellent. This kind of resource is sorely needed in this areaof East Suffolk as there is very little for young people who cannot access mainstream activities easily. It needs to be promoted more widely."

THE WORKSOPS

• "I feel that (PASTEL's) variety is the key to success."

• "Small group environment. More help available."

• "(my son) enjoys it once he is there. He often talks about what he has done later."

• "(My son) hated school and finds anything social very hard."

SON/DAUGHTER

• "(my son) has begun to learn that maybe other people have different opinions or likes/dislikes from himself."

• "Unfortunately (my son) does not communicate back what he has learnt, but I see from various actions/conversations that he has picked up quite a few skills. He is more assertive/helpful."

• "(My daughter) loves drama and acting herself."

• "(My son) asks a lot more questions at home and his self-esteem is greater"

• "My son is more confident."

• "(My son) is building his confidence, as I have observed in group work."

• "I am pleased with PASTEL. It has given (my son) the chance to mix with other peers that are not at school with him - giving him more confidence as he is more of an equal with them."

• "(My son) enjoyed the first aid course and ca't wait to put his training into action!"

• "(My son) is enjoying learning skills in a safe environment, outside the home, which is building his confidence and giving him life skills."

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• "(My daughter) enjoys PASTEL but I don't realy know what she does there exactly. I need more feedback from PASTEL."

• "(My son) can't always rember what he has done. The staff need to communicate more with parents or help them write a diary.If we knew what had been happening we could talk and reinforce it at home."

• "(My son) will not talk unless he really needs to. When asked about what he does at PASTEL all we get is "stuff"."