2020 – The Best Year of my Life
“2020 was the best year of my life!”
This was something we heard multiple times throughout the last year and we could hear it a million more times and it would still make us smile from ear to ear.
Real Life Skills started in January 2020 with the dad and daughter duo behind Real Life Skills Support Services – Greg & Sam. Our mission was simple, we wanted to teach skills for real life. We wanted to make a real difference, we wanted to walk along side each individual we came across and be a positive and empowering influence in their life journey.
Our first cooking class started on January 31st 2020, with our combined experiences and strengths, together we created a unique cooking program that continues to deliver results even more incredible than we had ever imagined.
Like many, we were hit hard by Covid. Our group classes that were just starting and going great were stopped. Only starting not even 2 months earlier we weren’t sure what this would mean for us. 3 months later we started cooking again. We’d be lying if we said there wasn’t moments of self doubt and moments when our confidence was down. But we believed in our mission and we knew we had so much to give. One year down, and here we are with a team setting the bar high for support and an opportunity to do what we love everyday.
Throughout the year there has been so many amazing things that have happened and every single participant we have been lucky enough to work with have never ceased to amaze us with what they have achieved. We took a trip down memory lane, and to be honest, it was so hard to chose just a few to share. Here is just a few 2020 highlights.
Isaac
For those who follow us, there is a big chance you would have heard about Isaac’s success in 2020. Isaac started off in our cooking class earlier in the year, when Covid came, Isaac and Greg started 1:1 cooking at home. In cooking class Isaac told us he wanted to own a restaurant one day and Greg would be his head Chef. After a few lessons with Greg, Isaac’s mum heard him rustling around in the kitchen one morning and thought – “What’s going on in there”, then Isaac walked in and had made his mum breakfast in bed for the first time ever – scrambled eggs on toast. Fast forward to the second half of 2020, Isaac assisted Sam at the Brisbane expo in a cooking demonstration and he opened his own business – Isaac’s Sweet Treats with a record week of 850 cookies!! Isaac’s story continues to inspire us all and we have no doubt one day he will open his restaurant.
JOSH
Josh was our very first participant. Meeting Josh for the first time, he was shy, didn’t talk too much, didn’t really know what he wanted to do but was looking for someone who could help him find some direction and discover himself. Josh spent time with our mentors Sam and Riki constantly pushing out of his comfort zone. Josh participated in our cooking classes where he excelled. Towards the end of 2020 Josh had built some amazing skills through his work with Sam where he secured employment and now works every week. Josh came back to our cooking class in Term 4 and taught other participants in the class sharing his knowledge and skills with others. Josh’s confidence has grow immensely, the Josh that walked in our doors at the start of the year now shakes your hand, speaks in front of a class of people, works part time and is taking full control of living his best life. We couldn’t be prouder of everything he has achieved.
The Boys – Zack, Max & Jack
Zack, Max & Jack joined our Lifespace group in August. Each of them not sure what to expect, trying other groups in the past that hadn’t quite worked out for them the anxiety was real! Little did we know this would be the bromance of 2020. As they spent more time together their friendship grew, they went to their first parties to celebrate each others birthdays, beat Big Rob in Uno every week, took all of Riki’s money in Monopoly, accessed the community and pushed their comfort zones. They learnt and supported each other through feelings of anxiety, with our mentors sharing their own powerful stories and realising we’re all not so different. What the boys have gained from Lifespace is exactly what it aims to do – build real and genuine connections. This year Lifespace is expanding and becoming a mixed social initiative, bringing together males and females and offering a whole new opportunity for learning and the next phase of life. Watch this space – big things coming for 2021.
Amanda
Amanda had big goals for 2020 and one of the most memorable moments for us was Amanda getting her license. Amanda worked so hard throughout the year, she had a couple of set backs, but we have never met someone so determined. The day we received a picture with her holding her P plates, word spread so fast around the team with everyone celebrating her success. Amanda excelled in her cooking abilities this year, stepped out of her comfort zone into more social situations, learnt to sew, and kept it real with us with her straight shooting honesty that we love so much. Oh!! And she got a puppy!!! Never stop being you Mandi – you are one incredible lady.
Cooking graduation
Our Term 4 cooking graduation made our top highlights for 2020. It was a moment for participants to bring together family and friends and share a meal together that they had cooked. This was a significant moment for both of us, as we stood back and reflected and looked at what had been achieved from our first class. Our first class started with making fruit skewers and scrambled eggs on toast, and within the blink of an eye lasagne’s, pavlova’s, curries, and what ever else you can think of were being made from scratch. Not only was there an overwhelming sense of pride and confidence from each individual but a sense of community. We are excited to see so many new faces in our cooking program for 2021 and look forward to bringing the program to many more very soon.
DAMO AND HAYDO
Our favourite dynamic duo! Damo and Haydo started working together in 2020 and would give the boys bromance a run for it’s money. These two are two peas in a pod and has seen Damo go from strength to strength in 2020. Damo cooked up a storm in cooking classes, he sailed laps around Haydo showing him how it’s done, they’ve been on adventures, sung, danced, made tiktoks and have been working towards Damo getting back into the workforce. There was never a dull moment with these two! 2020 was just the start of this amazing partnership, with plans for Damo to take his sailing to a professional and competitive level in 2021 (pressure’s on Haydo). Forever inspiring, Damo you’re an absolute legend, thanks for bringing us along for the ride.
Our Team
For us, one of biggest achievements of 2020 is the team we have built. We have been so lucky to have the most incredible team sharing the same values and care for people that we do. Each team member bringing their own strengths and unique qualities. There is an incredible amount of respect for each other, and an overwhelming commitment to our Real Life Skills community, participants and their families. Without them we wouldn’t be where we are today and we are forever grateful for every single one of them.
It truly has been an amazing privilege to be able to watch our participants grow and kick some serious goals. Thank you to all our participants, for trusting us, believing in us and letting us be apart of your journey. We are so excited for what 2021 has in store.
Greg & Sam
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