Raffy’s story

Raffy’s life changed when he was 14. Although he was born with a vision impairment, after experiencing an assault he experienced a detached retina, which affected his vision even further.

Raffy was also in pain, and missed six months of school because of surgery to have a drain fitted in his eye. Although the recovery period should have taken three months, he went back to school after 3 weeks because he was studying for his GCSE’s. 

Unfortunately for Raffy, his school wasn’t equipped to help him in the ways he needed. He felt isolated because he required additional support, larger print books, and needed to sit right at the front of the class. Because of his condition, blinds had to be closed for him, he was escorted everywhere, he couldn’t go outside at breaks and lunchtime, and he couldn’t take part in games.

This all took its toll, and Raffy fell behind with his schoolwork. His grades dropped significantly, from 6’s and 7’s to failing. “They basically told me I had no chance,” he recalls.

Raffy was lost, with no idea of what he was going to do. Even the hobbies he’d enjoyed – things like running, weight training and rowing, and going to the cinema - weren’t options any more because of his vision impairment.

He hit rock bottom, and remembers, “I had to stop everything. It felt like my whole life was over.”

As well as being anxious about how much vision he would lose, and the anaesthetics he’d need during treatment, Raffy was also very concerned about his grades and about not being able to get into further education, as the career he’d planned in the police just wasn’t possible any more. Raffy’s mum, Allison, says, “He had lost his mojo, and he just felt rubbish.”

Finally, though, a family liaison officer put Raffy’s family in touch with RSBC’s Futures service. Mark, a Senior Community Support Worker, helped him frame his goals, replan his education, and rebuild his belief in himself.

Mark’s support and gentle encouragement made a difference from his very first meeting with Raffy. He worked hard to make sure that Raffy could come up with a solution that he felt happy with.

But perhaps most importantly of all, Mark was a good listener.  

Allison explains, “Raffy was very selective about the help he wanted, and he’d barely speak when he first started meeting with Mark. Now, though, he is really happy. It feels like Mark genuinely cares, and that has made a huge difference to Raffy. We are so grateful.”

As a result, Raffy found something that he wanted to do – become a forensic scientist. “Mark gave him a way of focusing on a new career. It’s helped him to get his motivation back, and meant he’s improved in his studies.”

And that motivation shows - in Raffy’s first set of mock exams, he failed seven out of nine, but more recently, he’s passed all of them.

“He had so much potential inside him,” adds Allison. “He thinks it’s better than his original idea now. What was originally a total catastrophe is now a positive thing, and his ambitions have changed for the better.” 

Mark’s also spoken to Raffy about setting up a plan B to do a different course, so that he has more than one option available to him. He’s spoken to him about dropping some subjects and focusing on the key ones, helping to streamline support. He’s supported him in applying for college, where he’s been given a conditional offer. And he’s helped Raffy to regroup, get back on track and realise his options. 

“Mark has done so much,” says Allison. “He’s bridged the gap, and checks up to make sure that everyone’s on the same page. He looks out for Raffy, and has supported me, too. I don’t feel that I could have got him to such a different place myself, and I look forward to Mark’s calls.

The more Mark spoke to Raffy, the more hope it gave Allison, and she feels like she has Raffy back now. “Raffy is clever, but I feel like he was getting fewer opportunities, and Mark has helped bring some of those back. He’s even looked into getting special measures with exam boards for him, because he faces different challenges to other young people.

“Raffy’s happy now. He’s much more excited now than he was about being a police dog handler! RSBC’s Futures service has given him a new opportunity, and he’s really excited and already wants to specialise.”

Raffy’s mum believes that RSBC’s team efforts saved him – as well as having Mark to push him forward, RSBC colleagues like Support Advisor, Edita, and Family Practitioner, Jody, also helped. For his part, Raffy says, “You shouldn’t give up. Keep trying - it will get better. And, actually, sometimes you can make the best of the situation, and it can uncover new things you didn’t know you wanted to do.”  

Raffy’s most excited about gaining independence and freedom when he leaves school – he thinks college will be more fun, and there’s no uniform in college either! His dream is to start at university, meet new friends, and have like-minded people around him – and then, of course, become a forensic scientist. “RSBC helped me to see a different future, one I could still be excited about,” he says. “I’m actually more excited about this new path than the one I had before I lost my sight.”