Greg celebrated his 30th birthday last year, but he’s younger in many ways. He was diagnosed with a condition called Global Developmental Delay, as well as autism, and finds it hard to talk, learn and interact with others.
“Greg was born after a difficult birth. He was starved of oxygen, and we lost his heartbeat for some time,” Greg’s mum Debbie tells us.
Greg lives with his mum Debbie and likely always will. Decision making can be hard for him, and he will often retreat to his own space and need encouragement to interact with others.
Since Greg has been coming to Thrive for weekly general sessions at Thrive Birmingham, he has started to bloom.
“Once you get past a certain age, support tends to dry up. So, I was overjoyed at how quickly Greg settled in at Thrive. Everyone has supported him, making him at ease. He loves it. It's his best day of the week,” says Debbie.
Thrive Volunteer Malcolm spends time with Greg in the garden and noticed that “When Greg first came to Thrive, he was very quiet and would sit on his own. More and more now he’s engaging with the community that we have here. It's a social environment for him.”
Thrive has supported Greg to spend time with others, make friends and develop his practical and creative skills. He learns at his own pace and enjoys the sense of freedom it brings him. Before Thrive, Greg used to garden with his grandad at their allotment.
“He grew better potatoes than his grandad! Unfortunately, we had to give it up and he really missed it. He came out of his shell at the allotment and afterwards his social confidence began to decline. He’s quite solitary, but now he’s at Thrive, he’s socialising again,” says Debbie.
With support, Greg enjoys making and designing things for the garden both at home and at Thrive.
“I work with Greg, gardening and building items like bug hotels and frames. He really enjoys the group dynamics and being involved with others. We have a joke and laugh, and he seems to thrive on that,” says Volunteer Malcolm. “The social interaction and the level of confidence that it drives in him, is rewarding for him.”
Greg loves being at Thrive close to nature. It’s where he feels comfortable and happy with people that care and understand him.
Debbie says Greg’s communication skills have improved since coming to Thrive. “At one time, we'd ask him what he has been doing during the day, and he’d just say, “lots of things”. But now he's telling me what he’s been doing, who he's been working with and sharing the jokes they’ve had,” she said.
“To know that Greg is at Thrive in a safe environment is such a relief. He’s happy, doing what he loves with people that appreciate and support him. Greg says people don’t understand him, but at Thrive they do. He has come so far.”
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