Eliot's story
"With the right support and environment, anyone can overcome their fears and build confidence."
Eliot's journey of overcoming fear and building confidence around animals has been nothing short of inspiring. Lockdowns hit everyone hard, but for Eliot, a person supported by Thistle Foundation, it meant a complete shutdown of his routine. As someone who requires additional support, Eliot found himself isolated and cut off from the world. His team were furloughed, however, with his mum, he found comfort in his favourite place – the beach. In his converted van that had all the facilities of a campervan, he would spend hours enjoying himself at the beach. Eliot and his mum also enjoyed a daily trip out on his rickshaw – the time when daily exercise and the outdoors was encouraged to promote wellbeing.
As lockdown restrictions began to ease, Eliot started venturing out with his support workers. In January 2022, Julie joined Eliot’s team and they started exploring new activities. One day, they went to Claireville Alpacas, a farm that housed a variety of animals. Eliot had never had any pets of his own, and he was always wary of animals. When he saw Bambi, the alpaca, for the first time, he froze. The only thing he could do was cling on to Julie and stand three feet away from Bambi.
But something changed that day. As they spent more time at the farm, Eliot started to let his guard down. With Julie by his side, he tentatively approached Bambi and rubbed him gently. It might have seemed like a small thing, but it was a giant leap for Eliot. From that day on, Eliot's outlook changed completely. He started looking forward to visiting the farm once a month, and Bambi became his new best friend.
From feeding the sheep and donkeys to cuddling lambs, Eliot was fearless. His confidence was growing by the day, and he no longer needed Julie to hold his hand. The staff at Claireville Alpacas were instrumental in Eliot's progress. They were patient, kind, and understanding, and they gave Eliot the space he needed to build his confidence. Eliot and his mum, Joy, decided to adopt Bambi to help support the care of the alpaca at the farm.
Joy, Eliot’s mum, emphasises the importance of Julie's support and how it has been crucial to Eliot's success in forming a connection with Bambi. She also expresses her gratitude towards the team at Claireville Alpacas saying, "When I think of this particular journey, and the amazing support Eliot has from Julie, Megan, Claire and the girls at the farm, I am filled with pride and gratitude – it is so heartwarming."
Eliot's newfound confidence didn't just stay on the farm. It spilled over to other areas of his life as well. He started interacting with Julie's dog, whom he used to be afraid of, and now enjoys visiting him each week. It was a remarkable transformation, and everyone who knew Eliot was proud of him.
In the end, Eliot's story is a testament to the power of resilience, patience, and love. With the right support and environment, anyone can overcome their fears and build confidence. Eliot is living proof of that.
