FAQs.
We understand you may have lots of questions about how GRIT works, and how we can offer support. We’ve answered some key questions that people ask below, but if you have any other queries or concerns, please contact us at hello@gritcharity.org
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Depending on where the referral has come from (GP, school or self-referral) and the type of support offered, sessions will take place either in the young person’s school, in our gym or office in Hitchin, or online.
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Boxing is a key part of the GRIT programme and whilst you don’t need experience in boxing to take part, we would encourage you to have an openness to trying something active, whether that’s boxing itself or simply enjoying keeping fit. All boxing is non-contact, meaning you don’t fight anyone, instead you’ll practice with our coaches and on the punching bags.
With our 1:1 coaching sessions, while non-contact boxing may be included where appropriate, it’s not essential. Young people who may not see themselves as boxers or have any interest in boxing are still very welcome to access 1:1 coaching. What matters most is having an open mind as physical movement can often help unlock emotions and offer new ways to understand yourself.
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That’s excellent! And whilst GRIT incorporates boxing in our programmes, it is not something we teach or provide outside of our services. We can offer contact details for those who wish to take their boxing further. Please speak to your coach or a member of the GRIT team for more information.
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Young people are welcome to refer themselves to take the first step towards better mental health and wellbeing, without the need for parental involvement. However we do have a duty of care for your safety so if there are any concerns about your wellbeing, we may need to contact the relevant people to ensure you are okay.
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Our current funding allows us to support those registered to a GP in Hitchin, Letchworth, Whitwell, Ashwell and Baldock which means you can access our services for free.
However, if you are registered with a doctor in a different area we can still support you but this would fall under our paid for services.
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All of our sessions are a safe space to show up and be you. We have had many instances where people haven’t liked others when starting the programme and grown to become friends over the course of 12 weeks.
We ask everyone to come with an open mind and leave judgements at the door.
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You can contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) number where you can get through to someone who can help you in a crisis. The number is 08006 444101 and is available 24/7.
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As much as we understand you’d like to better support your young person, what they share with us is shared with confidence. We do not share what a young person tells us unless their safety—or someone else’s safety—is at risk.
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Coaching is a forward-looking, practical approach that helps young people build confidence, resilience, and skills for everyday life. Unlike counselling or therapy, which often explore past experiences or diagnose mental health conditions, coaching focuses on the present and future. It is about setting goals, finding solutions, and developing strategies to overcome challenges. Our sessions are active, practical, and goal-focused helping young people build the tools to manage emotions, improve self-awareness, and take positive steps forward. This can be a helpful alternative or complement therapy or counselling, particularly for those not ready for more clinical interventions.
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We are in the process of putting something together for parents/carers needing support for themselves or a young person they care for.
If you’d like to be kept up to date with this, please email hello@gritcharity.org. Alternatively, we have lots of helpful blogs and content that you may find useful.
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Yes absolutely! Please complete our referral form below:
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Yes, we offer 1:1 coaching to any young person who would benefit from personalised support and they don’t need to have completed the GRIT Programme to access it. These sessions are a great option for young people who prefer individual support or need a more tailored approach.
If your young person is registered with a GP in Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Ashwell, or Whitwell, they will be able to access this service for free. If you live outside these areas, don’t worry, we also offer 1:1 coaching as a paid-for service.
Either way, please complete our referral form here, and we’ll guide you through the next steps.
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Yes GRIT can complement existing support plans, but we’re not a crisis or clinical service. If a young person is under CAMHS or another service, we ask that they have access to ongoing 1:1 therapy and a crisis plan in place. GRIT can then offer additional support through coaching and mentoring.
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We are so grateful you would like to support us – as a charity we rely on donations to be able to provide the service and support we do.
The best way to make a monetary donation is through our JustGiving page, where we can also receive gift aid.
However there are also lots of other ways you can provide support to GRIT – recycling ink cartridges, shopping and more.
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We welcome referrals from anyone supporting young people aged 11–24—including parents, carers, schools, GPs, and other professionals. You can refer a young person directly by completing our referral form. Wherever possible, we encourage young people to be part of this process and make the referral themselves, with support if needed.
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Yes! We partner with schools, colleges, and alternative education providers to deliver our services on-site throughout the academic year. This includes 1:1 coaching, group programmes, mentoring, and workshops. To find out more, email us at hello@gritcharity.org.
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Yes, we do. We can run staff workshops to introduce your team to GRIT’s Four Corners Method and how the awareness of a coaching approach can support young people’s mental health. To organise a session, please email hello@gritcharity.org for more information. -
Thanks to NHS partnership funding, young people registered with a GP in Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Ashwell, or Whitwell can access our services free of charge.
Young people registered to a GP outside of these areas are still welcome to access our services via our paid-for options, including online 1:1 coaching and school-based programmes.
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Coaching is a forward-looking, practical approach that helps young people build confidence, resilience, and skills for everyday life. Unlike counselling or therapy, which often explore past experiences or diagnose mental health conditions, coaching focuses on the present and future. It is about setting goals, finding solutions, and developing strategies to overcome challenges. Our sessions are active, practical, and goal-focused helping young people build the tools to manage emotions, improve self-awareness, and take positive steps forward. This can be a helpful alternative or complement therapy or counselling, particularly for those not ready for more clinical interventions.
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Yes GRIT can complement existing support plans, but we’re not a crisis or clinical service. If a young person is under CAMHS or another service, we ask that they have access to ongoing 1:1 therapy and a crisis plan in place. GRIT can then offer additional support through coaching and mentoring.
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That’s amazing, thank you! As a charity, we rely on the generosity of individuals, schools, and businesses to keep our services running and reach more young people who need support. From student-led events to staff challenges, every penny raised helps us reach more young people.
There are lots of ways your organisation can get involved:
- Make a donation through our JustGiving page, where Gift Aid can also be applied to increase your impact.
- Fundraise for GRIT by organising events like dress-down days, bake sales, sponsored activities, or staff challenges.
- Nominate GRIT as your Charity of the Year or run a team-building day with a fundraising focus.
- Get creative, whether it’s recycling ink cartridges or giving back through workplace giving platforms, we’re happy to explore ideas with you.
If you’re a school, business, or community group interested in supporting us, you can find out how to get involved on our Support GRIT page or email fundraising@gritcharity.org and we’ll be in touch with everything you need to get started.
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Yes. We provide anonymised feedback and outcome data to schools and funders showing how our work supports progress in areas like emotional regulation, confidence, relationships, and school engagement. Our Impact Report, provides a detailed overview of our outcomes.
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Yes, we do! We offer tailored workshops for teachers and schools designed to strengthen understanding, build confidence, and support the wellbeing of young people. Get in touch with us at hello@gritcharity.org to explore how we can shape a session around your school’s needs.