ONLINE INTEREST GROUPS BOOKING PAGE

Thank you for joining the waiting list for one of our interest groups. You have received this page because a trial space has become available in a group your young person has been waiting for. 

Please read the information below before booking.

Please only book a trial for the group(s) your young person is currently on the waiting list for and that matches their age.

If there isn’t a booking link for a particular group, it means there are currently no trial spaces available.

Trial spaces are offered on a first come, first served basis and are always for the next available session (shown on the booking link). Unfortunately, we cannot reserve spaces for future sessions, but if another space becomes available, we’ll send you a new booking invitation. You’re also welcome to ask us to remove your young person from the waiting list at any time.

If your young person enjoys the trial and would like to continue, they’ll be offered the opportunity to take the place as a regular member. To accept the place, please let us know within 24 hours of the trial session. After that, if we haven’t heard from you, the space will be offered to another young person on the waiting list.

Once your young person becomes a regular member, their place is reserved for them, and you’ll move onto our monthly booking system. They can keep their place for as long as they wish to attend.

Cost

• Self-funded: £15 per 1-hour session
• Funded (e.g. EHCP, Local Authority or school): £35 per 1-hour session

The booking system takes the £15 self-funded payment when you book. If your young person is attending through EHCP, Local Authority or school funding, please complete your booking as normal and then email us. We’ll send you a secure payment link for the remaining balance (£20).

How We Treat One Another at GROVE

We want all young people to feel they belong in our groups – that requires feelings of safety and comfort.

Guidance below was created with our Young Leaders to help:

• Detailed information on Word: GROVE Groups – How We Treat One Another – Detailed Information – Copy.docx 

• Detailed information on Word with large font size: GROVE Groups – How We Treat One Another – Detailed Information Large Font – Copy.docx 

• Summarised details with green background and images on PDF – font 1: Groups – YP Key Information (1).pdf 

• Summarised details with green background and images on PDF – font 2: Groups – YP Key Information (2).pdf 

• Summarised details with white background and images on PDF – font 1: Groups – YP Key Information (3).pdf 

• Summarised details with white background and images on PDF – font 2: Groups – YP Key Information.pdf 

• Video: How we treat one another at GROVE-20241122_094738-Meeting Recording.mp4

Support for Younger Groups

To help our younger groups feel happy, safe and comfortable we require a parent/carer or trusted adult to support our younger participants.

Having a familiar adult with them means your young person has someone who can help them communicate, regulate, understand what’s happening if they’re unsure, and support them if they need a break. 

Support will look different for every young person, but it might include:

• noticing if they are becoming overwhelmed before they reach crisis point;
• changing their sensory input;
• helping them recognise their body’s cues (such as hunger, thirst, tiredness or rising stress) and encouraging a break when needed;
• acting as a communication partner if they’re struggling to express themselves or interpret what’s happening;
• giving them a safe person to verbal process with, rather than processing into the group where that might be challenging for the other young people;
• temporarily muting their microphone while they verbal process or vocal stim, before helping them rejoin when they’re ready – we don’t encourage supressing these needs, but overlapping sounds can be incredibily difficult for other people’s sensory processing;
• supporting them to express frustration, disappointment or criticism privately, rather than directing it towards other young people in the group;
• acting as a communication partner by helping your young person understand the needs of the group, navigate misunderstandings and repair when needed. Having a trusted adult available means individual guidance, co-regulation and repair can happen within the safety of your relationship. This helps protect everyone’s dignity, reduces the likelihood of shame or rejection sensitivity being triggered, and creates a more positive experience for both the individual and the group.
• reassuring them when something feels uncertain or unexpected;
• helping them leave and rejoin the session if they need a regulation break.

Many young people gradually become more independent as they settle into the group and initial adult co-regulatory support helps build the safety, comfort and skills needed for that to happen. These moments of support are also valuable opportunities to develop lifelong skills. Through co-regulation, communication and gentle scaffolding, young people can build confidence in recognising their own needs, advocating for themselves, navigating social situations and participating in groups in ways that feel authentic to them. These are foundations of self-understanding, self-esteem and skills that often transfer beyond our sessions into other areas of life when developed in a safe, supportive environment.

Unfortunately, when younger children attend without appropriate support before they’re ready, they can experience difficulty which can affect both their own experience and the sense of safety and comfort for the other young people in the group. Having an adult actively supporting helps everyone have the best possible experience. 

Adults are also welcome to support young people in our older groups too of course we just don’t tend to find it as essential as the younger ones!

Does this feel ok for you and your child? If so, please go ahead and book below!

THERE ARE 3 STEPS TO BOOK 

Your booking is only confirmed once all 3 steps have been completed. Please complete them within 24 hours of receiving your booking link, otherwise the space may be offered to another young person on the waiting list.

Step 1:

Please pay using the link below.

The payment link is set to the self-funded rate (£15). If your young person is attending via EHCP, Local Authority or school funding, please pay the self-funded rate first and then email us. We’ll send you a payment link for the remaining balance.

Step 2:

Once you’ve made your payment, please complete the Information & Booking Form straight away.

The links are included in your booking confirmation email – email us if you do not receive this but please check your Junk/Spam first.

Step 3: Camera off?

To help keep our groups safe for everyone, we need to verify the identity of any young person who attends with their camera switched off.

If your young person is happy to switch their camera on briefly at the start of the session so we can verify they are a young person, you do not need to complete this step.

We have a 3 ways ID can be verified – please choose the easiest for you and we also require a password:

Option 1 – Professional confirmation 

Ask a professional who knows your young person (for example, a teacher or another registered professional) to email us from their professional email address confirming they know both you and your young person and have verified your identities (either in person or online).

Option 2 – Photo ID

Email a copy of both:

• Your photo ID
• Your young person’s photo ID (for example, a passport)

Option 3 – Short video

Send a short video introducing yourself and your young person. Your young person does not need to speak, but they do need to be visible on camera.

Password

Please also include a one-word password in the same email.

At the start of each session, if your young person’s camera is off, we’ll ask them to type this password into the chat so we can confirm their identity.

AFTER BOOKING

Please add jess@gr0ve.org and admin@gr0ve.org to your email contacts list so we don’t end up in your Junk and please reach out if you have not heard anything 24 hours before the group session.

If you have done all 3 things – paid, submitted the Information & Booking Form and ID/password (if needed) then you will be emailed our GROVE Group Guide with all the information needed to join. 

IMPORTANT:

To confirm your trial booking, Steps 2 and 3 must be completed within 24 hours of making your payment.

If these steps are not completed within 24 hours, we may release the reserved trial space to another young person on the waiting list. As your space has been reserved for you during this time, payments are non-refundable if the booking is not completed.

MONDAY

SCIENCE 

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP? Each week the group explores a science topic through lively discussion, quizzes, and fact-sharing. Tangents are common and deep dives are definitely encouraged! As this is an established group, it’s evolved around what the current young people enjoy – mostly open conversation and sharing ideas not any kind of practical activity. New members will be warmly welcomed and will help shape future topics too! Some young people use speech to communicate, some only use the chat to type.

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentors, Fergus and Helen, with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 young people.

• WHEN? 12.30 – 1.30pm

• AGE RANGE 12-17

DRAGONS – FULL

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP? A space for young people fascinated by dragons, myths, and fantasy worlds. Participants can share stories, create their own dragons, and discuss dragon lore, while building creativity and connections with peers who share their interests.

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentor, Sabina, with a minimum of 4  and maximum of 5 young people.

• WHEN? 4 – 5pm
• AGE RANGE 8-12

TUESDAY

JAPAN

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP? A space for young people who love Japan to explore the culture, geography, language and anything else that may be of interest! Please let them know that due to the age range in the group we won’t be able to talk about anime and manga that is rated age 15+.

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentor, Louise, with 4/5 young people.

• WHEN? 4 – 5pm
• AGE RANGE 10-14 (note this was altered in line with interest as it was originally over 12s only)

LEGO

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP? A space for young people who love LEGO to share their builds, create together, and bring their ideas to life! This group is all about imagination, collaboration, and celebrating creativity – whether you enjoy following instructions or inventing your own unique designs. They can come along to build, chat (if they want!) and be inspired by others who love LEGO just as much as they do. Note this is not ‘Lego therapy’.

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentor, Charlotte, with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 8 young people.

• WHEN? 4 – 4.45pm (this is a 45 minute group currently, it may increase to 1 hour)
• AGE RANGE 8-12

REPTILES

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP? A space for young people who love snakes, lizards, turtles, or any scaly friends! This group is all about exploring, sharing, and celebrating reptiles – whether you’re a seasoned reptile fan or just curious!

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentor, Sabina, with a minimum of 4  and maximum of 8 young people.

• WHEN? 5 – 6pm
• AGE RANGE 8-12

MYTHOLOGY – FULL

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?

  Fascinated by gods, heroes, monsters, and magical stories from around the world? This group is all about exploring myths, legends, and epic tales together!

  Each session we could:

  • Share and retell favourite myths
  • Play fun mythology quizzes and “Guess the God/Goddess” challenges
  • Draw characters, mythical creatures, or legendary scenes
  • Create our own myths or short stories
  • Explore myths from different cultures and what they teach us
  • Discuss the themes, morals, and mysteries behind the tales

  No prior knowledge needed – just bring your curiosity, imagination, and love of stories!

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentor, Sabina, with a minimum of 4  and maximum of 6 young people.

• WHEN? Tuesday 6 – 7pm
• AGE RANGE 12-16

WEDNESDAY

ANIMALS (lively group) 

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP? Young people come together and share in the glory of the animal kingdom. From pets to working animals to wild creatures, from British wildlife to the creatures from other nations, from cold blooded to warm blooded, from the deep ocean dwellers to those that swing in trees, from the animals that thrive in frozen landscapes to those that survive in deserts, we will follow our interests and desires and grow our knowledge and adoration for animals as close to home or as far away as we fancy. And maybe we will even imagine new and exciting cross breeds! The current group enjoy showing and sharing, looking at images, playing games and watching videos together. This group can be high energy with many young people being very chatty!

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentor Louise, with a group of 4 to 5 young people who are comfortable in a louder and more lively group group.

• WHEN? 4 – 5pm
• AGE RANGE 8-12

THURSDAY

POKEMON – FULL

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP? Whether you’re into the games, the show, the cards, or just the creatures themselves – come join us for some Pokémon fun and connection!

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentor, Craig and a minimum of 4, maximum of 8 young people. Craig will be joined by another Mentor if we have 5 or more young people.

• WHEN? 12 – 12.45pm (this group will likely increase to 1 hour soon)

• AGE RANGE 8-12

ANIMALS (quiet group) 

• WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP? Young people come together and share in the glory of the animal kingdom. From pets to working animals to wild creatures, from British wildlife to the creatures from other nations, from cold blooded to warm blooded, from the deep ocean dwellers to those that swing in trees, from the animals that thrive in frozen landscapes to those that survive in deserts, we will follow our interests and desires and grow our knowledge and adoration for animals as close to home or as far away as we fancy. And maybe we will even imagine new and exciting cross breeds! 

• WHO WITH? Our Autistic Mentor, Charlotte, with a small group of 4 or 5 young people who need a very quiet group. Most communication in this group in typing in the chat as we have some young people with significant auditory sensitivites. 

• WHEN? 5 – 6pm
• AGE RANGE 8-12

MORE ABOUT GROVE INTEREST GROUPS

How do I book?

Follow the 3 steps above.

Does my young person need a diagnosis to attend?

No, we welcome Autistic young people who are awaiting assessment and self-identified as Autistic. It is essential that your young person knows they are or may be Autistic though.

Are these groups only for Autistic young people?

At the moment, yes. 

How long do the groups run for?

Most of our groups run without an end date and with pre-arranged breaks. Once your person has a place, they keep that place for as long as they want it (subject to Terms and Conditions). 

How can I book a session that is funded by an EHCP / EOTAS / EOTIS, personal budget or any other professional means?

It’s no different if you have a personal budget – just go ahead and book.

If you need us to invoice someone else and already have agreement for funding, you can email Jess on jess@gr0ve.org to reserve a space.

VIEW TERMS AND CONDITIONS

More FAQ’s can be found at the bottom of this page.