The Need

Both research and experience suggests that families with children who have additional needs are experiencing a reduction in health service provision [1]. But the need remains: the Department for Education suggests that currently 16.6% of pupils within the education system in the UK have special educational needs [2], and the Office of National Statistics reports that 17.8% of the general population of England and Wales has a disability that impacts their everyday life [3].

Growing Hope aims to bridge the gap between need and provision by providing complimentary therapy services, such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and counselling, to enable children to reach their developmental potential.

Holistic Care

Early Christians shaped and contributed to the provision of healthcare for those who were ill or had disabilities [4], leading to a more holistic view of treatment that looked at an individual’s spiritual as well as physical and mental wellbeing. Current restrictions to services means that it is difficult for healthcare providers to adequately give such care.

Growing Hope aims to provide treatment that considers all aspects of the lives of the children, young people and their families who come through the service. We understand that such families often experience increased stress as carers, and want to support siblings and parents of children with additional needs through counselling, support groups and courses (such as the Circle of Security Course), and exploring spiritual wellbeing.

The Beginning

Growing Hope was founded by Dr Naomi Fox, children’s occupational therapist, in December 2017. Two dedicated boards of trustees set up the first two charities – Growing Hope (national organisation) and Growing Hope King’s Cross (the first local clinic). Growing Hope is a charity which provides free therapy for children and young people with additional needs in collaboration with local churches across the UK. Growing Hope aims to grow hope for children, hope for families and hope in Jesus.

Naomi had been working both within the NHS and private settings where many families were stuck on long waiting lists, or had not been getting the support and intervention they needed. She had seen the local church bridge the gap in healthcare services whilst visiting Thailand and India and felt encouraged that this may be possible within the UK. Naomi’s desire to see all families have the healthcare support that they need, and to know they are loved and cared for, led to the vision for Growing Hope.

What have we done so far?

Please find our annual reports which summarise our work to date here.

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