07762 879731 | maidstone@growinghope.org.uk | St Luke’s Church Maidstone, Foley Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5BE
Growing Hope Maidstone is a charity offering free therapy for children and young people (0-18) with additional needs living within the Maidstone area. We also provide support for parents, carers and siblings through our groups and courses.
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Lots of children with additional needs don’t have access to the therapy they need to reach their full potential. Growing Hope Maidstone runs in collaboration with St Luke’s Church with a vision to see all children and families thrive. Find out more what we do and how to access free therapy for your child:
We currently offer Music Therapy. We accept referrals for children and young people with diagnosed or undiagnosed additional needs who live in Maidstone. Parents, carers or professionals can make a referral on a child’s behalf. Growing Hope is open to all regardless of belief.
To find out more about each type of therapy, go to our FAQs page.
Our Growing Hope Maidstone clinic currently runs therapy sessions at St Luke’s Church Maidstone, Foley Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 5BE. The clinic is open on weekdays during term time. Access is by appointment only, please make a referral and then we will be in touch over email to arrange an appointment.
If you have any questions or would like more information about Growing Hope Maidstone then please get in touch. You can contact the Lorraine Ackroyd, the Clinic Manager, on 07762 879731 or via maidstone@growinghope.org.uk.
Lorraine is the Clinic Manager at Growing Hope Maidstone. She has a Masters from the University of Roehampton in psychodynamic Music Therapy and has since worked with both adults and children in a freelance capacity, specialising in mental health and trauma and also working with additional needs. She has worked across a range of therapeutic approaches, depending on the needs of the client, including trauma-informed, psychodynamic and person-centred approaches. She has a passion for using creativity and specifically music to create a safe, therapeutic environment in which to build connection and to support clients towards their goals.
When Dreams Change is a course we run to help parents adjust to and process having a child with additional needs. To find out more about When Dreams Change and to sign up click here:
Learn More Sign UpSiblings Group enables brothers and sisters of children with additional needs to share and process their emotions and experiences. Find out more about Siblings Group and sign up by clicking here:
Learn More Sign UpOur Parent / Carer training sessions run over Zoom and are hosted by Growing Hope therapists. We explore strategies to help support your child on a variety of topics, to find out more click here:
Sign UpCircle of Security is a course for parents and carers to help them better understand their child’s emotional needs. To find out more about Circle of Security and to attend our next course sign up here:
Click below to find the Local Offer for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families in Kent.
Growing Hope Maidstone works in collaboration with St Luke's Church. We are grateful to the community for their support, volunteers and for welcoming Growing Hope families. Our Clinic Manager will be at services on Sunday mornings to help welcome and support any families with additional needs who come along. Families of all faiths are welcome to attend our clinics.
Growing Hope Maidstone is a registered charity: number 1210062. Growing Hope therapists are all members of a professional board and receive regular clinical supervision. We take the safety and wellbeing of all children really seriously – you can read our latest safeguarding policy here. Each year we complete an annual report which gives details of the impact that we have had in the lives of children and young people with additional needs.
Hollie Butler (Chair) – Hollie is the chair of Growing Hope Maidstone. Hollie is currently the curate at St Luke’s Maidstone, having previously completed a theology degree at St Mellitus Theological College. She has a background in clinical cardiology in the NHS for over 20 years and has been involved in Christian leadership for nearly 10 years, working as a children and families pastor and a secondary school pastor. Hollie is also a trustee for Street Pastors Tunbridge Wells and set up the first rural School Pastors team in Wadhurst that operated successfully for 7 years in a local secular secondary school.
Tony Jones – Tony was a Maidstone GP for over 30 years and is clinical Director for a group of Maidstone practices. He helped establish Crossline Christian Counselling Service some 30 years ago and is still current chairman. Tony is married with three adult children and attends St Luke’s & Hunton Churches. He is passionate about mental health, social inclusion and the Gospel as means of achieving holistic practice.
Laura Evans – Laura is currently the Children and Families Pastor at St. Luke’s, Maidstone and also has an extensive background of teaching in a variety of different school settings, including leading a Specialist Resource Provision for children with additional needs.
Marion Hanks – Marion has 16 years’ experience of teaching in a state special school for children with special educational needs and disabilities where she worked closely with the visiting therapists. She also has qualifications in counselling children and therapeutic play. Marion is passionate about using her background in creative crafts to encourage children to explore and process their emotions and to develop their interests and abilities through play and experiencing different types of media and sensory processes – she loves a creative mess!
Nikki Evans – Nikki is a wife and mother of three. Currently she is a stay-at-home mum and a volunteer at St Luke’s Kids Church and in her working life was an area manager of retail shops. As a mother of school age children, she knows how much impact Growing Hope with have in the local community and is grateful to be a part of that.
Katy Abson – Katy is Head of Children’s Services at Involve Kent. As a mum to two young adults, Katy draws from her life experiences, particularly her journey of supporting her autistic son. She has a rich background in community and residential social care, where she’s had the privilege of working with children and young people with additional needs. Katy believes that the strength of her faith and the support from her community have been crucial in her special needs journey. With genuine excitement, she looks forward to nurturing and developing Growing Hope Maidstone.
Mandy Mileham – Mandy is part of the leadership team of connect church Maidstone with her husband Leon they have been married for 24yrs. She is mum to 3 boys 2 with a diagnosis of ASD. She also works part time for her local SENDIASS service she is passionate about supporting families with children with special educational needs.
Catherine Cooper – Catherine is a pain and exercise specialist with a comprehensive understanding of health and wellness, and over 20 years’ experience of running her own business. Drawing on her extensive research in neuroscience and behavioural science, Catherine understands the complex interplay between physical, cognitive, and emotional factors that impact a child’s wellbeing. With her personal experience of raising two children with sensory and processing challenges, she is a passionate advocate for children and young people with additional needs.
Hollie Butler (Chair) – Hollie is the chair of Growing Hope Maidstone. Hollie is currently the curate at St Luke’s Maidstone, having previously completed a theology degree at St Mellitus Theological College. She has a background in clinical cardiology in the NHS for over 20 years and has been involved in Christian leadership for nearly 10 years, working as a children and families pastor and a secondary school pastor. Hollie is also a trustee for Street Pastors Tunbridge Wells and set up the first rural School Pastors team in Wadhurst that operated successfully for 7 years in a local secular secondary school.
Tony Jones – Tony was a Maidstone GP for over 30 years and is clinical Director for a group of Maidstone practices. He helped establish Crossline Christian Counselling Service some 30 years ago and is still current chairman. Tony is married with three adult children and attends St Luke’s & Hunton Churches. He is passionate about mental health, social inclusion and the Gospel as means of achieving holistic practice.
Laura Evans – Laura is currently the Children and Families Pastor at St. Luke’s, Maidstone and also has an extensive background of teaching in a variety of different school settings, including leading a Specialist Resource Provision for children with additional needs.
Marion Hanks – Marion has 16 years’ experience of teaching in a state special school for children with special educational needs and disabilities where she worked closely with the visiting therapists. She also has qualifications in counselling children and therapeutic play. Marion is passionate about using her background in creative crafts to encourage children to explore and process their emotions and to develop their interests and abilities through play and experiencing different types of media and sensory processes – she loves a creative mess!
Nikki Evans – Nikki is a wife and mother of three. Currently she is a stay-at-home mum and a volunteer at St Luke’s Kids Church and in her working life was an area manager of retail shops. As a mother of school age children, she knows how much impact Growing Hope with have in the local community and is grateful to be a part of that.
Katy Abson – Katy is Head of Children’s Services at Involve Kent. As a mum to two young adults, Katy draws from her life experiences, particularly her journey of supporting her autistic son. She has a rich background in community and residential social care, where she’s had the privilege of working with children and young people with additional needs. Katy believes that the strength of her faith and the support from her community have been crucial in her special needs journey. With genuine excitement, she looks forward to nurturing and developing Growing Hope Maidstone.
Mandy Mileham – Mandy is part of the leadership team of connect church Maidstone with her husband Leon they have been married for 24yrs. She is mum to 3 boys 2 with a diagnosis of ASD. She also works part time for her local SENDIASS service she is passionate about supporting families with children with special educational needs.
Catherine Cooper – Catherine is a pain and exercise specialist with a comprehensive understanding of health and wellness, and over 20 years’ experience of running her own business. Drawing on her extensive research in neuroscience and behavioural science, Catherine understands the complex interplay between physical, cognitive, and emotional factors that impact a child’s wellbeing. With her personal experience of raising two children with sensory and processing challenges, she is a passionate advocate for children and young people with additional needs.
Growing Hope is a registered charity in England and Wales, number: 1176358
info@growinghope.org.uk | 07519 965200 | Growing Hope, 390 Caledonian Road, London, N1 1DN | Find the location of your local clinic here.
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