Creating a positive future

A 14-year-old boy with autism is on a mission to spread joy and positivity by launching his own t-shirt line.

Oliver Reece-Woods who attends Rainford High, had a difficult time at his previous high school where his mum Lisa Woods says he was labelled as “naughty and problematic”.

But after switching to Rainford High, Oliver blossomed and turned his focus to creating a positive future for himself and others – by launching his own clothing line Oliver Jude Clothing.

With help from Satis Education who supported Oliver with a grant of £100 to purchase a printing machine which he uses to trial his t-shirts and support from his family, Oliver now has three t-shirts with the words ‘I am Joy’, ‘Believe in Yourself’ and ‘Love’.

Oliver said: “After my first school being hard for me, I joined Rainford and the school really encouraged me to focus on something positive.

“When I felt better I wanted to support that for other people too and spread that happiness and I thought what better way than getting people to wear a positive top.

“They can feel good and others who read it can feel good too.”

His mum Lisa Woods, 44, added: “Olly has always been very entrepreneurial and after his rough time at his other school and his autism meaning he can fixate on things, this is a positive thing for him to focus on.

“He is incredibly clever and high functioning, so it doesn’t surprise me at all that he wants to help others. “Currently he designs them and they are made elsewhere, but it would be great if he could get it moved closer to home in the future.

“I couldn’t be prouder of him.” Oliver is now hoping with help from St Helens Chamber he can grow his company, and spread more positivity.