NINE SEND students are now published authors and illustrators after creating a book in their class to help others tackle social anxiety.

Carmel College has a dedicated Foundation Learning department catering to the educational needs for SEND students aged between 16-21.

Some of these students – under the guidance of teacher Michael Owen – have published and illustrated their own book called ‘Have a Go Avocado’ telling the story of an avocado who faces different challenges due to his anxiety.

Each page of the book tells a different student’s experiences and was illustrated by one of the team too.

To celebrate it being published by Carmel College in conjunction with St Helens Council, St Helens Book Stop offered a book launch event on Wednesday, a day students will never forget.

Teacher Michael Owen said: “This was born really out of a lesson and as it developed we helped create a character for the council to discuss framework and when they learned we were working informally on a book they wanted to get involved.

“The students all got involved, some may not want mentioning but all should be incredibly proud and it’s hopefully going to influence them that they are published authors now, they helped create something and events like today lets them voice their own experiences for others – and that’s really important.”

Sharon Fryer, Head of SEND and Inclusion at the college added: “There is a misconception that people with additional needs ‘cannot’ do.

“This is wrong and we work to prove that. This book goes to show that every person with SEND ‘can do’ it might take longer or look different for them, but there is so much that people with SEND can bring to things due to the way they see things and that’s important too.

“They have a voice and it needs to be part of the conversation.”

Students involved with the project, Lucie Ramsdale, Tim Franklin, Bobby Dyson and Katie Mannion all spoke about their feelings on being involved.

Bobby, 20, from St Helens, said: “We’ve never seen this book all done before today and to be in a book shop with a book we made is crazy.

“I am really proud and hopefully people like seeing what we did, the avocado stone in the book changes colour to show different emotions, I really liked that bit.”

Lucie, 20, from Wigan added: “I feel happy that we did it because it will be available to schools now to help other children and young people like us and that makes me feel really good.”

Katie, 17 from St Helens added: “I do feel proud, it doesn’t seem real really”

Lastly Tim, 18, from Warrington, who illustrated the entire book said: “I feel good about it. I’ve been into art all my life but I wanted to be a game designer. This showed me I could do more with art, which is cool.

“I’m really pleased with the book.”

Nik Lowe, manager of The Book Stop added: “When Brian started with the idea for this book shop is was about community.

“This event is the very essence of that, students in a St Helens school being supported by this community, it shows this is a community space, encouraging reading and literacy yes but its for the community and we are pleased to have done this for them all today.

“They should be really proud of the book.”