A Safe Space for Connection, Understanding and Growth

At GROVE, we believe in the value of authentic connection. We understand how important it is for children and young people to have a safe place where they can share their experiences, feel truly heard and receive support from someone who understands their experiences. Our Individual Mentoring is built on foundations of authenticity, connection and deep, neuro-affirming understanding of Autistic experience. We fully reject the pathologising, medical-model framing of Autistic identity and experience.

What Can Mentoring ‘Do’ for Your Young Person?

Mentoring at GROVE is not about following a rigid model with adult imposed outcomes; it’s about meeting your young person where they are and adapting to their unique needs. Each mentoring relationship is child or young person-led, allowing your young person to explore their own goals, whether that be, for instance, to understand their needs and how to self-advocate or delve into their Autistic experience in a supportive environment. Or, it may not be goal-driven at all and rather a safe space to be themselves and be truly valued for who they are. Our Mentors have no goals, outcomes or expectations in mind nor any hidden agenda.

What makes GROVE’s mentoring truly unique is that all of our Mentors are Autistic themselves meaning they are positive roles models with relatable lived experience and uniquely attuned to the needs of your young person. Additionally, GROVE’s Mentors are also specialists in autism with deep knowledge of Autistic experience, current theory and practice. We will work with you to match your young person with a Mentor who together we believe will be most appropriate, ensuring they connect with someone who truly ‘gets it’.

Above all, our Mentors are here to listen, validate and build a strong, trusting connection with your young person. This connection is at the heart of what we do, creating a space where your child can feel safe, understood, supported and valued.

Engaging in Meaningful Activities

We recognise that not everyone connects best through conversation alone (whether that conversation is though mouth words, typing or ACC for instance). That’s why our Mentors are also ready to engage in various activities that your young person enjoys. Whether it’s crafts, exploring special interests, watching videos, listening to music or maybe even reading together – these activities can be a powerful way to build connection without the pressure of conversation.

These shared experiences can foster a deeper connection and make the mentoring process enjoyable and accessible for your young person. By ‘doing’ things together, we can create a space where your young person can feel comfortable, relaxed and truly themselves.

Is Mentoring Right for Your Young Person?

We believe that mentoring can be valuable for any young person – they do not need to be struggling to benefit from the consistent, supportive presence of a Mentor in their life.

It is important to note that mentoring is not a substitute for therapy or counselling. If your young person is struggling with their mental health, we recommend seeking help from a qualified mental health professional first. Mentoring may be a valuable complement to professional mental health support, offering your young person a consistent, understanding presence in their life.

Is Individual Mentoring for Developing and Learning Social Skills?

We are acutely aware of the harm of neuro-normative ‘social skills’ or ‘social cognition’ teaching and how this encourages masking and harms self-esteem. Autistic people have Autistic social skills, we are not only here to model full acceptance of that but can also explain the theory, research and lived experience evidence in an accessible way if your young person wants or needs that.

We can facilitate ‘value-neutral’ understanding of neuro-normative social communication if this is desired by the young person but will draw upon the Double Empathy Problem to explain differences in social communication across different neurotypes is just that; difference.

Key Features of GROVE’s Individual Mentoring:

• Neuro-affirming: We fully subscribe to and understand the neurodiversity paradigm, neurodiversity movement and intersectionality. We are informed on historic and current theories of autism and thus reject harmful, deficit-based theories such as the ‘Theory of Mind’ hypothesis and embrace Autistic led theories such as Monotropism. We fully reject the medical model and pathology paradigm and we also stand strongly against neurodiversity-lite too! What’s more, if your young person wants to learn about any or all these things then we have the skills and the knowledge to facilitate that. We create space for young young person to explore and understand their Autistic identity and experience in a neuro-affirming way – we won’t define that for them, or tell them what they have to believe, rather we will give them access to affirming information and allow space for them to make their own mind up.  
• Experienced & Reflective Mentors: Our Mentors bring both lived experience and deep knowledge of Autistic experience. We are also humble and reflective, always considering how we can continue to learn and improve.
• Flexible Session Lengths: Choose between 30-minute or 1-hour sessions, with a minimum of 1 session per week but the option of more subject to availability.
• Flexible Duration: We do not have a set duration for Individual Mentoring either – we remain with your young person for as long as we are able and they need us.
• Communication: We accommodate all forms of communication and work with you and your young person to support their needs.
• For Ages 8-17: Mentoring is available to Autistic individuals (formal diagnosis not required – we fully support self-identification) who are aware of their Autistic identity or are in the process of identification. 
• Child/Young Person-Led: Sessions are driven by your young person’s needs and preferences, with an emphasis on building a strong, supportive relationship.
• Trauma-Informed, Low-Demand Approach: We use a low demand approaches to ensure your young person feels safe and comfortable. We are anti-behaviourist in our practice.
• Safer Recruitment: All of GROVE’s Mentors have been through a Safer Recruitment process which includes an Enhanced DBS check including children’s barred list.
• Currently Available online in the UK: While we are UK-based, we are exploring possibilities for international mentoring in the future.
• Funding: Individual Mentoring can be funded privately by parents / carers or by professional services such as schools or Local Authorities. We are ready to work with your Local Authority to become an approved supplier for funding via ‘short breaks’, EOTAS/EOTIS, EHCPs and such-like. We are confident we have the skills, policies and processes in place to satisfy the professional bodies involved.
• Runs year round: We work year round rather than following school term times. If you need to make a unique arrangement for term time only, please talk this through with Jess.
• Cost: Privately funded: £45 per hour, with a half-hour option available at £22.50 (no VAT payable at present). For those being funded by EHCP, Section 19, LA’s, EOTAS/EOTIS or other such professional bodies or services, the cost is £50 per hour or £25 for half an hour. Full Terms and Conditions including payment, cancellation and so on can be viewed on our Policies page. You can also view some FAQs below. *Please note we are due a price increase in September 2025. 

At GROVE, we value authenticity, connection and understanding. Our Individual Mentoring is here to offer your young person a space where they can be themselves, connect with someone who understands and explore their identity with confidence and support if this is their desire.

If you’re interested in learning more or would like to discuss how mentoring could support your young person, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help. We operate a no-obligation waiting list system that you can sign up below.

Resources for Young People

Does your young person want to know more about Individual Mentoring in resources created for them? No problem – we have some: