The Hope Tree

What our clients have been saying

From our counselling service

Brabourne CEP School has worked with The Hope Tree for the past 4 years. The service provided by Maureen has been of huge benefit to the pupils she has worked with, supporting a variety of emotional needs and equipping pupils with the strategies and confidence needed to deal with the challenges they face. This was also the case during and following the Covid-19 pandemic, when Maureen's provision was crucial. We are very grateful for her continued support for our pupils.

Andrew Stapley, Headmaster, Brabourne CEP School

The Hope Tree is a truly fantastic service. They have enabled some of our most vulnerable children to feel well supported, recover from, and come to terms with trauma as well as boost their confidence and wellbeing. They are reliable, consistent, and always highly enthusiastic about the work they do. All children are treated with love and warmth, as are staff!
I have been very impressed by the speed at which referrals are responded to and the ongoing dialogue with Maureen regarding our children to ensure that their sessions are as beneficial as possible. I regularly recommend The Hope Tree to colleagues without reservation. Thank you so much we are very grateful for you!

Jen Dawes, Head of School, Woodchurch CEP School

Maureen has supported several of our children for counselling sessions. The feedback from parents and children has been positive. The children warm to her and look forward to the sessions. She is available to talk about her work with parents and give them advice on how to support at home.
Maureen is reliable and punctual. Good communication and contactable for advice and consultation. Regular updates and reviews with sessions tailored to the needs of the child.
With one particular family some difficult issues have been approached. On this occasion she is eager to work with the parents to help them to make pro-active changes at home to support their daughter to make difficult changes in behaviour. Maureen has worked with children in our school who have anxiety and behaviour difficulties. She has also supported children with complex needs and trauma.

Gill Morrisey, Family Liaison Officer (FLO)

I have found the sessions useful being able to talk to someone and not keeping it in and being able to talk about things I usually would not.

J, Student, 13

I really enjoyed being with you Maureen because you helped me cope when someone in my family died. It has helped me to be focussed and speak my emotions out instead of keeping them inside.

G, Student, 8

We had service from Hope Tree for a Y5 child who had come from a different school and this service was already in place for him. he was a Child in Care and we felt this continuity was important for him and us and that there would be a significant impact. The child enjoyed his sessions and as a child with complex needs, we can only assume that this service supported him and gave him a place away from school and home to gain support and strategies. I have no way of measuring this impact though.

As DSL, designated teacher for children in care, I did meet with Maureen from Hope Tree and feedback was appreciated in terms of how the child viewed school and the impact of the SEN and pastoral support we were also putting in place.

At times more feedback would have been appreciated or sharing of targets for this child e.g.: what the focus of sessions may have been and how this could have been supported after in school however, the child concerned had complex needs so perhaps this wasn't appropriate. I would recommend this service.

Andrea Cooper, Assistant Head Teacher/DSL, Willesborough Junior School

I found this service invaluable during lockdown. Maureen supporting my daughter during this time via Zoom genuinely made a HUGE difference to our family life. I can't thank her enough.

Learnt how to explain my feelings. A nice friend. Happy. Funny.

CT - Parent, and ST - Child

I would recommend your service to others. You offer the children a safe place to open up about their struggles and needs.

N Ostridge (FLO at Great Chart Primary School)

"Maureen has been counselling children here at Beaver Green during the last academic year. She has been a huge support to the children which has had a positive impact on their wellbeing. Her approach to her work has shown compassion and understanding. Maureen also meets with the parents and where applicable supported with referrals for outside agencies. Maureen has worked as an extension to the schools welfare team and has provided a valuable provision which we will continue to access."

Head Teacher, Beaver Green Primary School

"Hope Tree Counselling has played such an important part in helping several of our children.

Maureen's supportive and compassionate approach has improved their wellbeing both in and out of school. They have learnt how to understand their life challenges and find strategies to positively move forward.

We will definitely be recommending Hope Tree Counselling to families in the future."

Lisa French, Family Liaison Officer, Egerton Church of England Primary School

"Maureen was introduced to us by my son’s primary school. When the six weeks were finished we continued to see Maureen on a private basis.

Maureen not only helped my son deal with his strong emotions and sadness, she looked after me too.

She quickly started to understand my son and was so patient and calm. When he wasn’t able to cope with either a whole or part session Maureen would sit with me and talk things through. This was so helpful to me as a new single mum coping with my own sadness too.

I always knew Maureen was there to support us and offer reassurance when things seemed overwhelming. We were so grateful to have Maureen’s gentle nature, kindness and wise words guide us through a difficult time."

LG (Parent)

"My son first began seeing Maureen as he had separation anxiety which made going into school a challenging and unpleasant experience for everyone involved. Maureen slowly built up his confidence and addressed his issues in a sympathetic and sensitive way. He very much began to trust Maureen and her sessions with him had a very positive impact. Maureen is extremely caring and professional and I would very much recommend her services."

Jon (Parent)

"Two of my children spent time with Maureen from the Hopetree after my husband and I separated. During a very difficult time, Maureen created a safe space for my children, in which they felt comfortable enough to confide their feelings and share any worries they had. Maureen also supported me during this time, especially with regard to how best to help my kids through the toughest days. I was extremely grateful for the support and would recommend Maureen to anyone who finds themselves with a similar need."

CH (Parent)

It helped me seeing Maureen because it has taught me to express my feelings and what's on my mind.

-Child

From our Activity Days

Children:

- Thank you for a great day, Jasmin, Walter & Jesica

- Thank you for the lovely day, Ellie & Alfie

- Great place and I liked juggling and hula hooping, Bethany

- I enjoyed the hula hooping and spinning plates, Cameron

- Amazingly fun, Super, Great, Fantastic, Brilliant, Awesome, Very lovely thanks, I love it.

- [What did you enjoy?] Sewing and card making, Painting, I loved playing, I enjoyed the family tree and the creative things, Snakes and ladders, Sewing my pillow, I loved the day it was amazing, Friends, I was happy because it was fun, Cool.

Volunteers:

I have been helping with activities with Hope Tree, Half Term Event in Summer and again in October 25th to 27th.
The events are always very well organised, and children have lots of fun and laughter. I am always amazed, how much energy Maureen Gordon has, as she’s always so busy but cheerful all the time.
Maureen is very sociable and understanding with parents and children alike. Maureen always books someone from the locality to do crafts, exercise, or storytelling and for the helpers it’s so good to see, how much Maureen cares. Very much enjoyed the event.

Susi Weaver - Volunteer

Parents/Carers:

Very warm and welcoming group for Children and Parents. Activities are different, enjoyable and inclusive. Personally, I do not know how I would survived the six wees without the help of the and support of this group. I am so glad I have found this group. Thank you to Maureen for all the hard work she puts in and the volunteers who support to make this group successful and enjoyable.

Luanda - Parent

The kids had a great time, they enjoyed each one of the activities, cooking, drumming, dye dying, Godinton House visit, the seaside trip, and the movie, great entertainment, great food, lots of kids to interact with.

Tatiana (Parent), E and D

We have enjoyed lots of quality family time with The Hope Tree and have loved trying new things & visiting new places. Thank You for all that you do and for all of the wonderful memories you have helped us make.

Amanda Harris - Parent

They all had a great time... and I love the packs that you put together with everything in... brilliant idea and very thoughtful. Thank you for all you and everyone has done to make these activities possible even though it's a little more difficult to achieve. These days we have to adapt to what's going on with all this Covid... but it seems we are all finding ways to overcome the difficulties that the virus is causing. Here are some pics of the kids...I even got ME to be in a pic.

TM - Parent

Thanks for today. Rian had a great time. Sorry we couldn't get our sound to work but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
See our baking turned out really well (and I never bake). We will make these again because they were so easy.
All the activities were great!

AM - Parent

Thank you for these past few days of activities and story telling. We have really enjoyed them and it’s been great having the supplies and ingredients pre prepared for each day which takes stress out of organising family activities.

MG - Parent

Story time was lovely. My daughter absolutely loves reading so that was her favourite part.
We really enjoyed it. The fact you do it all for free is amazing and you truly are generous and thoughtful people. We really appreciated the efforts you guys went to for us, and we would absolutely love to join in again!
I would 100% recommend you to a friend and I already have spoken about the Services to several family members and how amazed I am by what you have done for us all.

GR - Parent

"We had a good time, thank you!",

"We had so much fun, and we learnt sign language for the 1st time today. We would come again.",

"A fantastic event! I look forward to hearing about more 100% recommend.",

"Great I had the opportunity to do some activities with my children, quality time spent together",

“Thank you very much, also for organising lunch. It helps.”,

“I enjoyed it and my daughter did as well. Well organised half-term event.”,

“All children and adults had fun, activities according to their abilities or working as a group.”,

“Well put together and a great opportunity to bond with my daughter.”

Our Clients: past and present

Beaver Green Primary School	Brabourne Primary School	Capel-le-Ferne Primary School
Chilham St. Mary's	Great Chart Primary School	Willesborough Junior School
Victoria Road Primary School	Wye Free School	Egerton Primary School
Towers School	Repton Manor Primary School	Ashford St. Mary's
	St. Michaels Primary School