Students are Bolting Ahead

Holt Bolt founder Richard Holt has been working with a group of students at Redcliffe State High School to plan and run an all-abilities event, putting smiles on the faces of participants and instilling a sense of purpose.

The program is part of his Bolting Ahead charity which aims to give young people the skills and confidence to reach their potential.

The Ocean View resident and his team had been working with a group of six students for about six weeks when we visited the school.

During that time, they decided to stage a Drovers’ Dash race filled with fun and challenging obstacles in five zones.

They invited students from Redcliffe Special School, Aspley Special School, Lee Street Special School and the Holt Bolt community to take part in the event which was held on November 10.

Year 10 student Teya Moody says it was a fun way to engage the visiting students in activities that they might not ordinarily be involved in.

“I have realised how much goes into planning an event. When you think about it, you think they just get the stuff and set it up but there’s more planning behind it,” Teya says.

Redcliffe State High School Head of Special Education Teacher Nicki Williams says the program followed a successful initiative where students mentored pupils at Redcliffe Special School.

“Taylor and Richard came to us with this idea and we thought it would be fantastic for a number of our students to jump on board with that,” she explains.

“There had been a definite increase in engagement and I think the most prominent thing is that it has opened the kids’ eyes to some pathways … things that they didn’t necessarily either think were a possibility for them or didn’t know were available. That’s been the biggest thing.

“It has been great and we’re excited to see where else it can go and how many of our other students it can help.”

How it works

Richard and his team have structured lessons in a way that breaks up theory with sport to keep students interested.

“With a program like this, it’s so good to see kids come so far in a short space of time,” he explains.

“Having that event at the end gives them that really clear goal and I think having that clear goal allows us to have something to work towards rather than just come in and run random, little activities.

“They’re also getting the experience to possibly do this later in life as well.”

Richard is keen to continue the program next year, possibly expanding it to involve more students.