Our Approach

We don't take the responsibility of nurturing an individual lightly, so we developed an approach with four main values that we are passionate about and have seen amazing results with.

EMPOWER

Discover a person’s short and long-term goals and empower them to work towards their future. In discovering strengths and weaknesses, we can help solidify and encourage those strengths and start working towards learning new skills. Studies have shown that short-term goals release quick bursts of dopamine, the brain’s motivational ‘reward drug’. The favourable behaviour of short term goals is rewarded by dopamine. This is part of the behavioural school of thought known as operational conditioning. This can condition new behaviours through a reward system. Rewards lead to repeated behaviours which lead to new habits. We will support and provide tools to help the individual in achieving these goals. 

Connect

To develop a staff and participant connection and a foundation built on trust with the individual. Our aim is to be positive role models/mentor for the individual so they can have a healthy relationship, which will have positive input into their lives. Furthermore, connecting the persons in their community which will positively affect other spheres in their life. 

FUN

Many people from traumatic backgrounds have missed out on positive childhood experiences which are necessary for emotional, mental and physical growth. We aim to create positive lasting memories for the individual. Creating a playful and fun environment is a vital part of our organisation. Our activities are a therapeutic way to connect with positive role models and help the individual to diminish the pressing affect of life stressors by giving them something new to engage with and focus on. This may help participants to also view stressors as challenges that they can now overcome. People living with trauma or mental illness often find it difficult to concentrate on a simple task and feel unmotivated to reach their full potential. Evidence based studies show that physical activities such as surfing and nature therapy can decrease the impacts of trauma and mental illness on daily living, elevate mood and increase motivation. 

NURTURE

The definition of nurture is: To care and protect (someone or something) while they are growing. We intend to nurture through using a therapeutic relationship with the participants to facilitate their needs. Nurturing a person includes advocating for their needs and reporting anything that may be compromising their safety. We aim to be a stable and trustworthy mentor in the young persons’ life and hope that they would feel safe and genuinely cared for.