Certificate in Mentoring Neurodivergent Young People
LAUNCHING JANUARY 2027
Applications open September 2026
Join the course mailing list to be among the first to hear.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for adults supporting neurodivergent children and young people, whether in a discrete mentoring role or within a wider professional capacity where mentoring, relationship-based support and trusted adult connections form part of their work.
As mentoring is a broad and evolving field with no single framework or definition, the course has been thoughtfully designed to be relevant across a wide range of settings and interpretations of mentoring.
Why have we created this?
While many professionals find themselves supporting neurodivergent young people in mentoring and trusted adult roles, few have had access to training specifically focused on neurodivergent experience, identity, communication, safety and wellbeing.
Bringing together neurodiversity-affirming academic knowledge, professional expertise and lived experience perspectives, this course explores the knowledge, frameworks and practical skills needed to work safely, ethically and effectively with neurodivergent young people.
Experience and entry requirements
No prior qualifications or mentoring experience are required. The course is suitable both for those new to mentoring and for experienced practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding, strengthen their practice and develop a more neurodiversity-affirming approach.
Certification options
Learners will have the option of completing the course for a GROVE Certificate of Completion or, subject to approval, undertaking an externally accredited assessment pathway.
Learning beyond the certificate
At GROVE, we believe becoming a neurodiversity-affirming Mentor is an ongoing journey, not something that ends when a certificate is awarded.
Practitioners who successfully complete the Certificate in Mentoring Neurodivergent Young People will be invited to join the GROVE Mentoring Community – our Community of Practice, designed to support continued professional learning, reflective practice, and connection with other Mentors.
Members will have opportunities to deepen their knowledge through specialist webinars, research updates, reflective discussions and shared learning as the community grows.
ALTERNATIVE PROVISION STAFF
SCHOOL SENCo, TEACHERS & PASTORAL STAFF
Teaching assistants / learning support assistants
TUTORS
LEARNING MENTORS
YOUTH SERVICES
COMMUNITY MENTORS
SOCIAL WORKERS
FAMILY SUPPORT WORKERS
SEND PROFESSIONALS
GAMING-BASED MENTORS
ASPIRING MENTORS
What makes this course unique?
Across schools, youth services, alternative provision, tutoring and community settings, there is a growing need for practitioners who understand how to build safe, affirming and successful relationships with neurodivergent young people.
Despite increasing awareness of neurodivergence, there remains a lack of specialist training for those supporting neurodivergent children and young people through mentoring and relationship-based practice.
This course has been developed to help address that gap by bringing together current theory, lived experience, ethical practice and practical mentoring skills within a single coherent learning experience.
Grounded in the Neurodiversity Paradigm and informed by both lived and professional expertise, the course enables participants to explore what meaningful, ethical and neurodiversity-affirming mentoring looks like in practice.
Course Curriculum (subject to change)
Module 1: Neurodiversity & Intersectional Identities
- Neurodiversity theory
- Disability theory
- Intersectionality
Module 2: Neurodivergent Experience
- Autism
- ADHD
- PDA
- Wider neurodivergent experiences
- Sensory
- Communication
- Executive functioning
- Environmental factors
- Masking
- Burnout
- Mental health
Module 3: Ethical & Safe Practice
- Ethics and mentoring relationships
- Ableism, power and privilege
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Creating safety
- Safeguarding
- Scope and professional boundaries
Module 4: Mentoring in Practice
- Mentoring models and frameworks
- Relationship-based approaches
- Practical mentoring skills
- Play, interests, learning and activities
- Applying learning within your own context
- Reflective practice
Who we are
Specialist Autistic Mentors
GROVE is an Autistic staffed organisation with extensive experience providing 1:1 mentoring, groups, training and specialist support for neurodivergent children, young people and families worldwide, online from the UK.
Grounded in the Neurodiversity Paradigm and informed by both lived and professional experience, our work focuses on identity, belonging, wellbeing and authenticity. Alongside direct support for young people, we work extensively with schools, local authorities and organisations to improve neurodiversity-affirming practice and increase access to meaningful support for neurodivergent young people.
This course is not about training participants to mentor in the same way we do – it is about giving access to the most up-to-date and affirming information about neurodivergent experience so that learners can apply that thoughtfully and ethically in their own context.
You’ll learn from Jess Garner – GROVE’s Founder/Director [BA Hons, PGCE, Master’s in Autism (distinction)], from neurodivergent young people and from other specialists.
Neuro-affirming Professional Development
Choice of certification
This course is currently in development and is being designed with two potential certification pathways:
GROVE Certificate (Completion Route):
All learners who successfully complete the programme will receive a Certificate of Completion from GROVE, evidencing their learning and engagement with the full course.
Externally Accredited Route (Assessed, Level 3 – Subject to Approval):
We are currently in discussions and preparation for external accreditation. Subject to approval, learners will have the option to complete additional assessment requirements in order to achieve an externally accredited Level 3 Certificate in Mentoring Neurodivergent Young People.
Further details – including costs – will be confirmed once accreditation is finalised.
Funding Your Place
Many participants may be able to access funding for professional development. Depending on your circumstances, you may wish to explore one or more of the following options:
- Employer-funded professional development – If you are employed by a school, college, charity, local authority, NHS service or other organisation, your employer may have a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or staff training budget that they may choose to use to support your place.
- School, Trust or Local Authority funding – Schools, Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and Local Authorities may choose to fund specialist training that strengthens inclusive practice and supports work with neurodivergent children and young people. This may even be funded directly from one individual’s EHCP.
- Charitable or project funding – If you work within the voluntary or community sector, your organisation may have access to training grants or project funding that could be used to support your professional development.
- Self-employed business expenses – If you are self-employed and the training relates to your existing professional practice, the course fee may be an allowable business expense. We recommend speaking with your accountant or tax adviser to understand what may apply to your individual circumstances.
- Personal investment in your professional development – You may choose to invest personally in specialist training to deepen your knowledge, strengthen your practice, and expand the support you are able to offer to children, young people and families.
If you are unsure whether funding may be available, it may be worth speaking to your employer or organisation, as professional development budgets and funding opportunities can vary.
How the course will run
01
Hybrid approach
On-demand learning is supported by online Q&As, guided reflection and body-doubling within a specified timeframe.
02
On-demand only
With 12 months access to your learning platform.
03
Choice of certification
Choose between GROVE’s completion certification or assessment with external accreditation.
04
GROVE Mentoring Community Invite
Practitioners who successfully complete the course will be invited to join the GROVE Mentoring Community – our Community of Practice, designed to support continued professional learning, reflective practice, and connection with other Mentors.
Our Specialist Contributors
Developed by a neurodivergent team and informed by leading voices.
JODIE CLARKE
BSc Hons Psy
PG Cert Autism
MA Autism
MBPsS
PhD Candidate
Jodie is an independent specialist working with autistic children, their families and their schools. She has published various books for adults and young people such as The Secret Life of Rose and Stop the World I Want to Get Off.
Jodie will be contributing to course learning about burnout and a number of other areas.
TEO BYRNE
NDwise Hub Consulting
Teodora Byrne – owner and founder of NDwise Hub Consulting, late diagnosed AuDHD woman, consultant, speaker, writer, sensory integration facilitator and parent to three neurodivergent children. She helps neurodivergent people, families, educators, professionals and organisations understand neurodivergence in a way that’s compassionate and practical with a focus on safety and agency.
Teo will be contributing learning materials on AuDHD as a synchronous symbiotic relationship.
JADE FARRINGTON
MUNIRA ADENWALLA
LAURA HELLFELD
RN, MSN, PHN, CNL, Sleep Consultant
Laura is a neurodivergent health educator, independent nurse, sleep consultant and author dedicated to reshaping how self-care is supported within neurodivergent and disabled communities. Their work focuses on accessible approaches to areas such as food and eating, sleep, hygiene and toileting through direct support for individuals and families, alongside training and education for professionals. Laura creates inclusive resources and is the author and co-author of several books, including Flush Forward! and Belonging First.
Laura will be contributing to learning in various areas of the course including areas related to health.
More contributors will be announced soon!
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