Welcome to My Tree 4 Growth
Welcome to My Tree 4 Growth
“No one I think is in my tree
I mean it must be high or low”
Take a drive into the pleasant, almost leafy suburb of Woolton in Liverpool and turn into Beaconsfield Road. A few hundred yards up from the main drag, Menlove Avenue, childhood home of John Lennon, is a set of gates on your right. Well actually, there are two sets of gates; one covered in graffiti which seems to change daily and another which leads you to a plush modern building, the Strawberry Field Visitor Centre, set on the site of the former children’s home where John Lennon would spend many a happy hour playing as a youngster and which, of course, inspired his famous song from where My Tree 4 Growth take our name.
The Salvation Army, who own the site, use profits from the visitor centre, to fund their innovative Steps project, which aims to give youngsters with Learning Difficulties help to access the world of work. What could be more appropriate at a place that can be seen as “Ground Zero” for free thinking and individuality; and that is exactly the realm where My Tree 4 Growth will operate.
“No one I think is in my tree”; a line that has always stuck with me and offered much needed comfort and support when I have wondered why I can’t just be like other people. As you age, you better understand that individuality is a strength not a weakness but that doesn’t mean that those who make it this far don’t have the scars to show from their struggle. Unfortunately, the drive to be different, the force within that you can’t control, does not always lead to the classic “happy ending” where those who are different tap their huge potential and live fulfilled lives. Too often difference, or Neurodiversity, will destroy lives as surely as a terminal disease through isolation, addiction, poor education, fractured relationships, crime and a range of Mental Health issues. The cruel irony is that those who are Neurodivergent are expected to achieve in the same education and employment sector as those who are not and, when problems ensue, the fallout is experienced by family, friends, colleagues and fellow pupils.
Difference therefore, can be a source of inspiration and strength that lifts individuals above the crowd and propels them towards ever greater achievements. Too often though, it can be a weight that drags its victims down, placing them at such a disadvantage from an early age that life can turn into a daily struggle. At My Tree 4 Growth, we have an understanding based on the experience we have gained during our personal journeys. This experience drives our passion to help others to grow, developing an understanding of themselves and how to deal with the challenges they face.
My Tree 4 Growth can make a substantial difference for individuals because we recognise that one standard approach does not work for all. Our flexible support will be tailored to each individual and can be adapted. We are also keenly aware that Health and Education services are stretched to breaking point and that the pressures on staff are so intense that individual’s needs and challenges can be overlooked.
The sad reality is that there are many children in the education system who are either diagnosed with Neurodivergent conditions, on a waiting list that could stretch into years, or simply unrecognised and classified as “awkward” or “disruptive”. Equally, there are large numbers of patients on seemingly endless waiting lists, or in receipt of treatment that does not fit their individual circumstances. Factor in the impact on family and colleagues, or teachers and fellow pupils in the classroom, and the implications are clear and serious.
The three branches of My Tree 4 Growth enable us to use the wealth of experience we have gained in our respective fields, and combine it with a passion to help individuals face their challenges and thrive. Each branch of My Tree is carefully tailored to offer the support individuals, and those who live, work or study alongside them, need to progress further. You can find out more about our provision for Learning, Professionals and Therapy and Wellbeing on the relevant pages.
We are experienced and dedicated professionals who are passionate about using our skills to help those who fall between the gaps of uniform provision, which too often is all that is available. Using personalised strategies to each individual and their circumstances, My Tree 4 Growth aims to improve the lives of individuals and their families