Dear the Growing Me ladies,

I just wanted to say what an absolute privilege it has been and still is to experience the Growing me journey with our looked after children. 

For someone like me who was a bit nervous and unsure about delivering this to the children, you have made the journey so enjoyable and easy to access. The thought that has been put into the growing me package regarding the children it supports is huge and is accessible for any child. The support for the adults too is just perfect, reminding us we need to take care of ourselves too. Having all the resources at hand makes the session completely stress free, you really have thought about everything! The activities you have provided have been perfect and accessible for children of all ages.

Over the weeks we have watched our children grow in confidence and they have loved all of the sessions. From understanding their feelings and where we feel different emotions in our bodies to recognising their own strengths and qualities, the children have learned something new about themselves with each session.

Since starting the Growing Me journey I can definitely say that it has strengthened the bond between us and our children, as well as securing the knowledge in the children that we accept them for who they are and the trauma they carry with them.

We are currently on Session 8. The children’s Social Worker is helping to deliver this Session and life story information is being drip fed to our boy’s. During this time we have had one of our children who would not engage in his past whatsoever, begin to open up about his past experiences and start to share his trauma. This is amazing, hard for us to hear because we love him so much but positive because we can now get him the help he needs to heal. I believe the ‘Growing me’ program has played a huge part in giving him the confidence , courage and trust in us he needed to be able to start sharing.  I thought I was doing well as we haven’t used the ‘rip me’ leaves yet but now I understand it is session 8 when those come out! What is lovely is that whilst we wait to gather the boy’s entire life story together I am still checking in with them using the Me tree and Play Den.

This is a resource I can see myself still using after we have completed the sessions especially the Me Tree and the therapeutic activity cards especially if we have wobbly days! It has become part of our life.

Finally I just want to say how beautifully the package comes, having everything wrapped with such love and care.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Growing me’ journey and am so grateful to you all for providing this resource and to Beth from the DECC for giving us the opportunity to use it for our children. It has had such a positive impact on all of us.

You are all amazing! Thank you!