GROVE runs online interest‑based and general peer groups for Autistic children and young people to build friendships, connect through shared interests and feel genuinely understood in a neuro‑affirming, entirely Autistic space.
GROVE’s Mentors are all Autistic and are autism specialists ensuring we are at the cutting-edge of neuro-affirming practice.
Most of our groups run on an ongoing basis. Following a successful trial, you’ll be offered a regular space in the group, which your young person can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is then collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each week.
Roblox, Among Us and Minecraft groups work a little differently, with spaces generally booked on a week-by-week basis. Please see the individual group details below for more information.
See our current groups below!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SCIENCE GROUP
WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?
Each week, the group explores a different science topic, with plenty of room to follow questions, share knowledge and disappear down interesting rabbit holes! Topics are varied, and discussions can go into surprising depth as young people explore the things that fascinate them.
This isn’t a group built around lots of planned activities. Instead, following our current young people’s preferences it is mostly open conversation, sharing ideas, asking questions and following tangents wherever they take us! Quizzes and fact-sharing might feature along the way, but there’s no pressure to take part in activities.
New members will be warmly welcomed and will have opportunities to help shape future topics and discussions too!
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentors, Fergus and Helen, with a group of 4–8 young people.
AGE RANGE
Suggested age range: 12–18.
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT POKEMON GROUP
WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?
Whether you’re into the games, the show, the cards or just the creatures themselves, come and join us for some Pokémon fun and connection! We’ll share our interests, enjoy Pokémon-themed activities and spend time with other young people who love Pokémon too.
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Craig, and a group of 4–8 young people. Craig will be joined by another Mentor when there are 5 or more young people attending.
AGE RANGE
10–13 (ish).
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FORTNITE GROUP
WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?
More info’ coming soon!
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Andy, and a group of 4–7 young people.
AGE RANGE
Suggested age range: 8–18.
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT JAPAN GROUP
WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?
A space for young people who love Japan to explore its culture, geography, language, history, food, traditions and anything else that captures their interest! We’ll follow the curiosity of the young people in the group, sharing interests, discovering new things and enjoying time with others who share a fascination with Japan.
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Louise, with a small group of 4–5 young people.
AGE RANGE
12–18.
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
FIND OUT MORE
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 might:
- Share and retell favourite myths.
- Play 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 tell us.
- Discuss the themes, morals and mysteries behind the tales.
No prior knowledge is needed – just bring your curiosity, imagination and love of stories!
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Sabina, with a small group of 4–6 young people.
AGE RANGE
12–18.
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ANIMALS 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 creatures from other nations, from cold-blooded to warm-blooded, from deep-ocean dwellers to those that swing in trees, and from animals that thrive in frozen landscapes to those that survive in deserts.
We’ll follow our interests and curiosities, growing our knowledge and adoration for animals as close to home or as far away as we fancy. And maybe we’ll even imagine some new and exciting crossbreeds!
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentors, Louise and Amy, with a group of 4–8 young people. This is a livelier, more energetic group for young people who enjoy a busier group environment.
AGE RANGE
8–12.
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
Watch this space for some exciting announcement about GROVE’s Minecraft server!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT POKEMON GROUP
WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?
Whether you’re into the games, the show, the cards or just the creatures themselves, come and join us for some Pokémon fun and connection! We’ll share our interests, enjoy Pokémon-themed activities and spend time with other young people who love Pokémon too.
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Craig, and a group of 4–8 young people. Craig will be joined by another Mentor when there are 5 or more young people attending.
AGE RANGE
8–12.
COST
Please note that this is a 45-minute group, so the cost is lower than our standard one-hour groups.
- Full-price: £26.25 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £11.25 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUTH GROUP
WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?
Youth Group is a space to come together, spend time with other young people and enjoy doing things together, without needing to share a particular interest. We’ll offer a changing mix of games and activities, giving everyone opportunities to explore different things, join in, share ideas or simply enjoy being part of the group. We’ll follow the interests of the young people attending and see where things take us!
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Craig, and a group of 4–8 young people. Craig will be joined by another Mentor when there are 5 or more young people attending.
AGE RANGE
9–12 (approx’)
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ANIMALS 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 creatures from other nations, from cold-blooded to warm-blooded, from deep-ocean dwellers to those that swing in trees, and from animals that thrive in frozen landscapes to those that survive in deserts.
We’ll follow our interests and curiosities, growing our knowledge and adoration for animals as close to home or as far away as we fancy. And maybe we’ll even imagine some new and exciting crossbreeds!
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Charlotte, with a small group of 4 or 5 young people. This is a particularly quiet group, with a smaller number of participants to support a calmer group experience.
AGE RANGE
8–12.
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group runs on an ongoing monthly basis. Following a successful trial, your young person will be offered a regular space in the group, which they can keep for as long as they wish to attend. Payment is collected monthly on a recurring basis, so there’s no need to rebook each month.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT AMONG US GROUP
WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?
In an online call, young people will play Among Us together, working as a crew (or trying to work out who the Impostor is!). It’s an opportunity to enjoy the game with other young people who share an interest, whether they enjoy the teamwork, the mystery, the strategy or simply the fun of playing together.
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Andy, and a small group of up to 8 young people, with a Support Mentor where needed.
AGE RANGE
Open to young people across GROVE’s full age range of 8–18.
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
This group follows a weekly booking model. Young people who attended the previous week’s session will be given priority access to rebook before spaces are offered more widely.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ROBLOX GROUP INCLUDING GAMES
WHAT DO THEY DO IN THE GROUP?
In an online call, the young people will play games together. We’ve initially mapped out a list of games, but we’re open to this approach evolving over time. We’ve chosen a range of games to give young people opportunities to play together, and we hope that sharing the game schedule in advance will help you and your young person decide which sessions they’d particularly like to join.
GAME SCHEDULE
- Friday 27th November – Slap Battles
- Friday 4th December – Jujutsu Shenanigans
- Friday 11th December – Natural Disaster Survival
- Friday 18th December – Murder Mystery 2
- Friday 8th January – Fisch
- Friday 15th January – Blue Lock Rivals
- Friday 22nd January – Blox Fruits
- Friday 29th January – BedWars
More dates and games to follow!
WHO WITH?
Our Autistic Mentor, Andy, and a small group of up to 9 young people, with a Support Mentor where needed.
AGE RANGE
Open to young people across GROVE’s full age range of 8–18.
COST
- Full-price: £35 – for spaces funded through an EHCP or by a professional/organisation in any capacity (including personal budgets where a parent/carer pays using LA funds).
- Discounted: £15 – for parents/carers who are self-funding.
BOOKING
Booking opens one week at a time. Young people who attended the previous week’s session will be given priority access to rebook before we notify families on our expression of interest list that spaces are open for public booking here.
Don't see something that appeals to your young person?
Or are the times / age groups wrong for you?
TELL US YOUR IDEAS!
If you don’t see a group theme you think your young person would enjoy, please share your ideas below and we will look at what we can do!
How do I book?
Enquire directly by emailing hello@gr0ve.org with questions or complete an expression of interest using the link on the group you want. If and when a space becomes available we’ll reach out – please feel free to give us a shout on hello@gr0ve.org anytime for an update though.
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). Roblox, Among Us and Minecraft do work a bit differently though and they generally are weekly rebooking.
What happens after I book a trial?
Please complete the Information Form received in your confirmation email within 24 hours and send ID if needed.
You’ll then be sent our GROVE Group Guide with all the information needed to join.
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 get in touch.
If you need us to invoice someone else and already have agreement for funding, you can email us on hello@gr0ve.org to reserve a space.
Please do not book until you have LA agreement for funding – if you need help with that we are happy to write personalised letters of recommendation using EHCP targets/outcomes, just email to enquire.
More FAQ’s can be found at the bottom of this page.
Frequently Asked Questions: GROUPS
CAN MY CHILD PARTICIPATE WITH THEIR CAMERA OFF?
Yes! We have guidelines for safety to verify who is in attendance but we are very happy working with our young people off camera.
MY LOCAL AUTHORITY WON'T PAY IN ADVANCE - HOW CAN WE WORK THIS OUT?
When you book you will be asked to complete a form telling us how you are funding the sessions. If you are funding via professional means (i.e. EHCP, Section 19, school, EOTAS/EOTIS) and they will not pay in advance then Jess will get in touch to discuss the approach.
WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY IF MY CHILD CHANGES THEIR MIND OR IS UNABLE TO ATTEND?
Terms and Conditions can be viewed on our Policies page.
CAN MY CHILD PARTICIPATE VIA TYPED CHAT OR AAC?
Yes! We suppose whatever communincation method your young person needs.
MY CHILD PREFERS TO BE WITH OLDER CHILDREN/YP - IS THAT OK?
We put suggested age ranges – please make the choice that is best for your own child.
ARE GROUPS AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE UK?
Yes – we are able to welcome young people from all over the world.