GroOops
London

At GroOops, we are primarily dedicated to helping Children, Young People and Their Families through Life Transitions such as:

Divorce

Bereavement

Aspects of Loss

Family Break-up

Domestic Violence

Learning Difficulties

School, College and Work Issues

Behaviour and Relationship Challenges

VISION and AIMS

GroOops aims to provide innovative groupwork and counselling incorporating the expressive arts (where appropriate) to stimulate and engage in the development of healthy emotional wellbeing.

Children, young people and their families, from all social and cultural backgrounds, who are experiencing difficulties with life transitions, are encouraged to work towards healthier ways of behaving, interacting and communicating in a safe, confidential space.

This process is carefully facilitated and modelled by multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural counsellors and other professionals.

At all times we are looking to support, understand and facilitate the emotional wellbeing of our service users, irrespective of background or life experience, to promote healthy interaction and, by extension, to contribute to a healthy, supportive and communicative society.

It is our vision that those who progress through our groups as participants, increasing their personal development and ability to develop emotional wellbeing, are given the support and encouragement in the future to reinvest their positive experiences by returning as our GroOops facilitators, co-workers and mentors to continue and perpetuate the legacy of emotional wellbeing, social inclusion and mental health in our multi-cultural society.

FUNDING

Our grateful thanks to the following for funding our work:

Our Young People and Parents Bereavement Project - funded by Extended Services.

Our Young People and Parents Emotional Wellbeing Project - funded by Extended Services,

Our Schools Projects for Young People - funded by the Milly Apthorp Trust.

Our Young People's Projects - funded by the Youth Opportunity Fund. EVENTS

Our Holiday Projects for Young People - funded by the Exchange Grant.

Our Family Projects - funded by London Borough of Barnet.

Our Emotional Wellbeing and Counselling Forum for counsellors and all other professionals supporting Young People aged 13 - 25 in the Borough of Barnet - funded by IYSS.

Our SRE Projects for Young People - funded by Barnet PCT.

CONTENT AND STAFFING

Our staffing ratios are high due to the nature of the work we do. Up to three members of our staff are required for week-end work (3:8) and a minimum of two to four for our schools and other organisation's work. Each of our staff will contribute a different discipline and all GroOops are led by qualified counsellors and arts practitioners who have enhanced criminal records bureau checks. We also provide 1:1 counselling where necessary and where thought appropriate. Within our groupwork structure, we work in a bespoke fashion, following the needs of the participants and the issues that are raised.

We use an integrative approach dependent on the requirements of the group. The content of the GroOops groups can encourage an 'end product' linked to the arts with examples such as a photographic or written journal, poetry, art, dance, music and forum theatre to name a few - all of which can be incorporated into our celebratory KIDZ TAKE KONTROL production. Please see EVENTS

The bespoke end product can provide a tangible end goal, pride in work, focus and closure. It can allow the participant to find some sense of purpose and meaning as well as fulfilment and community as they develop their emotional wellbeing. The space within the GroOops groups aims to encourage and support healthy psychological growth. Using these approaches together in this innovative way challenges embedded behaviour patterns and encourages new and healthier mechanisms of functioning, both personally and socially, as has been indicated in feedback from our participants and organisations. Please see our GroOops GROUPS page and our YOUNG PEOPLE page.

In encouraging creative emotional wellbeing and resilience building strategies, we aim to fill a void in mental health resources for those children, young people and their families, who are in need of early intervention, to avoid more embedded mental health issues but who may be reluctant and/or unable to engage with statutory health services.

REFERRALS

We receive referrals from individuals, professional and voluntary and statutory agencies. If you have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to call our office to talk things through.

Our GroOops bases are in close proximity but not exclusive to the following areas: Arnos Grove, Barnet, High Barnet, Finchley, North Finchley, Finchley Central, East Finchley, Southgate, Muswell Hill, Mill Hill, Totteridge, Friern Barnet, Golders Green, Temple Fortune, Finchley, Edgware, Whetstone, Hendon, Bounds Green, Wood Green, Hampstead, Highgate, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Camden, Cockfosters, Stanmore, Burnt Oak, Cricklewood, Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green and across Greater London by arrangement.