WELCOME TO THE BOOKING PAGE FOR BEING ME!

Group times and age ranges have been set based on the spread of Expressions of Interest. If bookings have been made and you would like more information about the current make-up of a group, please email me on jess@gr0ve.org and I can share generic details. Please note that I’m not able to reserve spaces while enquiries are ongoing.

IMPORTANT:

Once a group has sufficient bookings to go ahead, you will be sent an invoice. You will not be charged if we are unable to run a group due to low numbers. However, by making a booking you are committing to the fee for that space once the group is confirmed to run.

If you plan to book using professional funding, please ensure this is agreed in advance and you have details of who we will need to invoice for advance payment. You’re very welcome to email me on jess@gr0ve.org to discuss this. I am happy to write letters of recommendation linked to EHCPs and communicate with LAs / schools.

PARENT/CARER MATERIALS

You may find it helpful to re-read the main page about BEING ME and/or watch the webinar I presented about BEING ME, which explains the ethos and approach and can support you in deciding whether it’s the right fit for your child:

BEING ME – Presentation & Q&A-20251123_195957UTC-Meeting Recording.mp4 

General Guidance – PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING

Is your young person ready?

To get the most from the experience, your young person needs to be in a place where they are able and willing to take part in a way that works for them.

• If they are in the depths of burnout, this may not be the right time because their nervous system may need rest and safety more than exploration right now.

• A gentle curiosity about what being Autistic means to them is also important. Without that spark of interest, it can be hard for them – and for you – to get much from the sessions.

• They need to feel okay about being online in a small peer group.

We can’t predict the exact feel of each group. Some become very lively and chatty, others are quieter, with young people contributing mainly through the typed chat. Both are completely welcome and equally valued.

Please also read the Terms & Conditions carefully. We’re not able to offer partial refunds or transfers to later groups. If your young person cannot attend a session, you will have access to the recording for the duration of the programme and for 7 days afterwards. Many parents find watching the recordings themselves extremely valuable, as it builds neuro-affirming knowledge, language and tools that can gently support their child with outside the sessions. Some families also find it helpful to share short sections, or to “strew” the recordings and let their young person dip in when it feels safe and interesting to them. Our hope is always that your young person can attend live, but if they can’t, there are still meaningful ways to gain a great deal from the programme.

---

Are you ready too?

Our approach is fully neuro-affirming. We radically accept engagement, participation, and communication in all forms. When we say everything is an invitation, we genuinely mean it: we never force or coerce.

We invite you, as parents and carers, to hold that same stance at home – to welcome engagement however it shows up, and to offer participation without pressure, expectation, or a sense that there is a “right” way to take part. Sometimes showing up quietly, listening, doodling, gaming, playing, having the camera off, or watching later is exactly what a young person needs. If they are accessing whilst at school, you may need to coach the staff to approach it in that manner too. 

We challenge the medical model. We tell young people that we do not see autism as a condition or disorder, and we share the growing body of knowledge that supports this view. We gently invite them to think about this and decide what feels true for them.

We give space for exploring concepts of disability and we do not advocate for calling autism a “superpower” (although if a young person brings that to the group themselves we will not challenge, just gently offer alternative perspectives.

We also explain that we are still learning a great deal about PDA. There is not yet enough evidence to say with certainty that only Autistic people can be PDAers, or that it is definitively a “profile” (although we acknowledge many people see it that way and that’s okay).  We gently present current thinking, acknowledge differing views, and again invite young people to reflect and form their own understanding.

This means that some things may be explained differently from what you have previously been told, or what you may have shared with your child. Understanding of autism, ADHD, PDA, and wider neurodivergence is (thankfully) evolving as neurodivergent people themselves increasingly lead the research and narrative. It is our responsibility to keep up with this, and we take that responsibility seriously.

We are open with young people about uncertainty, about differing opinions, and about the fact that knowledge will continue to grow and change. They are at the beginning of a lifelong journey of self-understanding.

Some young people will need significant co-regulatory support from a parent or carer in order to participate, and for their experience – and that of the group – to feel safe and positive. We therefore ask that you are available during group times to offer that support if needed.

Ongoing communication is really important. Please let us know how your child is doing, what’s helping, what’s hard, and any ideas you have for how we can adapt to support them better. Remember, BEING ME is not a one-size-fits-all programme – each week involves reflection, re-planning, and re-resourcing so that we can stay responsive to the young people in the group, and your insights are a vital part of that.

Please reach out on jess@gr0ve.org with any questions.

YOUNG PERSON’S MATERIALS

If your young person would like to learn more about Being Me so that they are part of the decision, here are some resources:

About BEING ME – A Resource for Young People.pdf 

 

FEELING READY? YOU CAN BOOK BELOW

AGE GROUPS:

Unless you have discussed with Jess ahead of time, please do not age up into the 12-16 bracket if your young person is 11.

If they are 12 you can choose which group they would be more comfortable in.

Please contact us if you have a 17/18 year old who you feel would be developmentally suited to a 12-16 group – at this point we have not had enough interest to create a group solely for 17/18 year olds.

GROUP SIZE

Minimum 6, maximum 8. At the moment booking is open to 6 with a waiting list as we have a number of people applying for funding that we will try to place, it is quite possible that people on the waiting list will be offered a space so please do sign up to the group you want.

IMPORTANT:

Once a group has sufficient bookings to go ahead, you will be sent an invoice. You will not be charged if we are unable to run a group due to low numbers. However, by making a booking you are committing to the fee for that space once the group is confirmed to run.

COST & RESOURCES:

• Full price, funded: £500 per place if funded via an EHCP, personal budget, school, LA, or any other professional body.

• Self-funding discount: Parents and carers currently offered a 25% if this is needed, making the cost £375.

Flexible payment is available providing time allows, meaning the total cost to be spread over 2 to 4 months, with the full balance due in the month the programme begins.

As it is an online programme, you will need access to a computer or tablet and an internet connection along with a quiet space. 

Note – Some craft supplies and printing will be required if your young person chooses to take part in those activities. 

DATES FOR APRIL 2026

ALL GROUPS START W/C 27TH APRIL 

ALL GROUPS WILL HAVE A BREAK W/C 25TH MAY WHERE NO SESSIONS RUN

ALL GROUPS FINISH W/C 6TH JULY 

Not quite ready? There will be a few groups available July-Sept and a full programme available Oct-Dec. Complete this form to go on the advance notice list for those.