A teenager has described how his father's death when he was nine left him so devastated and angry that his behaviour deteriorated and he got kicked out of school. Corey Williamson, now 17, said he didn't know where to turn and didn't get the support he needed when his dad, Keith died suddenly from heart problems.
Father and son were very close and Corey said he "crumbled" when he lost him. Corey, from Kimmel Bay in Conwy, was diagnosed with autism aged seven and didn’t know how to ask for help or express his grief when his dad died in hospital two years later.
At the time Corey was a pupil at Ysgol Maes Owen Primary in Kimmel Bay, but things got progressively worse when he went up to Rhyl High School and his grief came out as anger.
His behaviour at home and school "became challenging and aggressive" and by the time he was in his second year at high school Corey’s outbursts got so bad that he was excluded and sent to a pupil referral unit.
"I was very close to my dad, he was like my foundation and everything just kind of crumbled when he died," he said. "I felt like I lost my foundation and couldn’t get my head around what had happened. I was very lonely but pushed people away. I would lash out."
Corey said his dad helped him navigate life with autism and without him he felt “empty and angry”. That made him push people who tried to help him away.
“I got kicked out of school and that creates isolation. I didn’t have much social life because I got angry. I didn't like school and didn't think I had anything to offer." To get our free daily briefing on the biggest issues affection the nation, Wales Matters, click here
Keith was having a valve fitted in his heart when he died during treatment at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. When his devastated mother Lisa-Marie came home to tell Corey and his sister Corisha they couldn’t take in what had happened.
Lisa-Marie said it was “heart breaking” watching her son fall apart over the next few years and not knowing what to do. She couldn't give him the one thing he needed - his father back.
"Corey was just getting worse. I felt a failure, I felt I was failing him," she said. "I was scared. Corey was hurting so badly and the only thing that would help would be bringing his dad back and I couldn’t give that to him.”
Eventually Corey got the help he needed at Ysgol Plas Cefndy (Milestones Unit), a pupil referral unit in Rhyl. But even there it wasn't plain sailing at first.
Eventually the small class sizes and one to one attention he got from staff there helped Corey turn a corner. At Milestones Corey was also introduced to The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme.
He started to build his confidence and skills as well as learn how to be more open and express how he was feeling. Corey still had outbursts at teachers and pupils but, over time, things began to change.
He said he started to appreciate his peers and group activities and to believe in his own abilities.
After Milestones and with their help, Corey got a place on a painting and decorating course at his local college, Coleg Llandrillo, and is now working as decorator, but his dream is to train to be a plumber like his dad. He hopes to do a plumbing course next.
“My dream is to open my own business, just like my dad did. I can’t quite believe how far I’ve come,” said Corey. “Looking back, my behaviour was bad but, with support from my family, Milestones and The Prince’s Trust, I can finally see a future for myself.”
Lisa-Marie fought back tears as she described the “dark times” her son went through. She said Keith would be proud of how far he has come.
“He was in such a dark place. I am so proud of Corey now. His dad would be so proud. He is looking to the future now," she said.
Corey’s success overcoming challenges while grieving for his dad has been recognised with an award at the Wales Final of The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards.
The awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds. Corey scooped the Ascential Education Award, recognising a young person who has demonstrated significant personal growth and overcome barriers to improve their future through a Prince’s Trust Education programme.
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