JHF Therapeutic Programmes
In addition to our regular mentoring or tutoring services, we are able to offer short term intensive packages focusing on a specific element of therapy or development.
Lego® Based Therapy
Mindfulness and Yoga Classes
Outdoor Skills
Fitness and Nutrition
Lego Based Therapy
(1.5 - 2 hours x 6 weeks: in groups of 2 - 3 children)
Lego Based Therapy within a school setting by a fully qualified Lego based therapy facilitator.
Lego based therapy is a collaborative, play-based social skills intervention which is designed to improve social competence in children with social difficulties. The intervention was originally designed for use with children who have autism, although its use has been widened to children with related difficulties, with 2-3 children in the group.
The children are encouraged to build together within set roles, each child has the opportunity to take the role of engineer, supplier or builder.
The assignment of roles enables children to practise social interactions within a safe environment, and it encourages the development of skills for social interaction.
Sessions also include opportunities for more natural play in the form of freestyle building. The role of the facilitator is to promote more positive social interaction and skills for social competence.
Lego Based Therapy aims to:
- Promote the development of appropriate social, communication and play skills
- Utilise children’s strengths to help develop areas of difficulty
- Encourage an understanding of reciprocal relationship building through play
- Develop social communication skills such as sharing, turn-taking, following rules, using names and problem-solving
Benefits of Mindfulness:
- Strengthens self-control
- Lowers anxiety and stress
- Increases positive moods
- Better decision making
- Improves emotional regulation skills
- Increases self-esteem
- Improves health and body image
- Improves social skills and communication
Mindfulness Classes
(1 hour x 6 weeks)
Our fully trained youth Mindfulness and Yoga coach will support improvements in emotional resilience, behaviour, and general wellbeing.
Outdoor Skills
(3 hours x 12 weeks)
The JHF are very proud to have 'The JHF Orchard', our own community-built outdoor classroom and teaching garden in Clevedon, built specifically for JHF service users.
Following the ethos of Forest School, our outdoor skills package is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.
The benefits of outdoor learning are well documented, but sometimes for young children who struggle with social communication or who have developed spiralling patterns of negative behaviour, the group work aspect is a barrier to success.
Outdoor Skills with The JHF can be developed in either a 121 or group setting, each providing opportunities to:
- Develop regular and ongoing trust
- Raise confidence and self-esteem
- Participate in safe, outdoor play and education
- Learn how to manage risks
- Develop emotionally and physically
- Learn about the curriculum in a natural environment
Their bespoke package will include opportunities such as:
- Growing your own fruit and vegetables
- Fully supported access to the Project Growth outdoor classroom
- Gym induction session
- Healthy cooking for life – a chance to learn to cook and share nutritious healthy food
- Getting fit for free – looking at ways to use the environment around you for fitness
- Personal goal setting using SMART targets
- Support around negative lifestyle choices, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, fast food, energy drinks
Fitness and Nutrition
(3 hours x 12 weeks)
Our 12-week course will give a young person a chance to explore ways to consider their own lifestyle outside of the parameters of usual team sport-based PE lessons. Alongside a trained mentor, the young person will develop a bespoke action plan looking at their lifestyle and changes they wish to make.
Gaining Independence
(3 hours x 12 weeks)
One of the biggest transitions young people make is developing their own independence and beginning to make their own life decisions. Our trained mentors will work alongside a young person helping them to increase their independence following a bespoke programme for each individual.
A robust needs assessment completed with the young person and their parent, carer or school enables us to identify the steps towards independence the young person is ready to take.
Skills we support the young person to develop may include:
- Using public transport independently, including reading timetables, buying tickets online, identifying stops, communicating with others
- Managing a budget
- Budgeting for and cooking a range of healthy, nutritious meals
- Writing a CV or application letter
- Interview skills