At a glance:

• Programme start: Tuesday 7th October 2025
• Programme end: Tuesday 18th November 2025
• Times: 4.30 to 5.30pm every Tuesday (6 sessions in total – 7/14/21 Oct 4/11/18 Nov)
• Location: Our Place Community Hub, 2 South Cottages, Farthing Lane, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B72 1RN
• Facilitators: Peppy Hills (Senior Therapist), Nikki Veszpremi (Therapeutic Practitioner)
• Cost: Fully funded – no cost to parents

Suitable for young people who may be:

• • Facing the challenges of becoming an adolescent
  • Changing schools (e.g. from primary to secondary)
  • Experiencing changes in friendships and friendship groups
  • Wanting to expand friendship networks outside of existing ones at home and school
  • Willing to explore and discuss through fun creative activities in a relaxed and supportive environment

Young people attending the group will:

• Identify wellbeing and resilience strategies to use at home and in school
• Increase their ability to manage and communicate everyday needs in a time of growth and change
• Learn and explore through fun activities in a safe and supportive space
• Increase social confidence through connections with other young people 
• Develop self-esteem and self-knowledge, decreasing the impact of external pressures (like peer pressure)

How to join

Click the button below to book a place for your child or register your interest.

More about the programme:

Connect 4 Young Teens is a 1-hour weekly group programme for young people to explore ways of navigating challenges and pressures in their everyday lives.  This group will provide a supportive space where young people can think about their wellbeing, meet other 11-13 year olds, and explore issues that are important to them – like their values, identity and the impact of social media. This is important developmental work, and it all takes place through discussion and creative activities. 

At Beacon we put play and relationships at the heart of what we do. That’s because we know this is what helps children develop and keeps us all well. Our new programme offers young people aged 11-13 years old a chance to come together each week to think about what keeps them feeling playful and connected. 

In a context of increasing expectations, peer pressure and the intensity of social media, Connect 4 Young Teens offers a non-performative, relaxed environment for the group to explore and discuss what’s important to them.

Your child will be expected to attend each week of the programme where possible.

Why it helps:

 The early adolescent years from 11-13 are a time of constant change. Children are changing schools from primary to secondary, they might be noticing changes in their bodies or their peers, they might be experiencing changes in friendships and wanting to build relationships outside of home, and working out where they feel they belong whilst navigating the whole range of feelings we can experience. These developmental steps can form an important basis for later adolescence and adulthood.  At Beacon we know from experience that some young people seem to glide smoothly through these changes with confidence, whilst others could do with support in the community to explore this. 

Connect 4 Young Teens aims to offer a space to young people to think with us at Beacon and each other about what keeps us well during this time. This might be how to look after ourselves, how to navigate changing relationships in the real and online world, know what’s important to us and just how to keep growing and developing into unique young people. 

Peppy Hills is a qualified play therapist who leads Project Salam at Beacon Family Services.

A Play Therapist and Filial Play Coach, Peppy has worked in education settings from early years to higher education, community settings and health and social care contexts for many years. She also has a post graduate Masters qualification, a degree and Qualified Teacher Status.

Peppy has a rich variety of experience working with children, young people and carers/parents using play and creativity as a tool and language to strengthen relationships. She is currently undertaking the Theraplay practicum as part of her role at Beacon Family Services. She has specialised in working with individuals and families who are experiencing a high level of challenge and trauma in their lives, including children and young people with complex needs. Peppy is experienced in working with care experienced children, young people and their carers’ and foster families.

Peppy has led projects and training in Romania, Australia, New Zealand and throughout the United Kingdom and enjoys learning about others’ cultures. Her training has explored healthy relationships and ways of maximizing playful physical and creative opportunities for children, young people, babies, their carers’, educators and families to experience together.

Peppy is passionate about supporting adults and children to strengthen and enjoy their relationships.

For more information about Beacon Family Service’s Project Salam, contact peppy@beaconservices.org.uk or 0121 270 0593.

Nikki Veszpremi is a Therapeutic Practitioner with a background in supporting education and inclusion across various settings.

Her work spans advocacy for young people with disabilities, aiding visually and hearing-impaired students, and facilitating refugee resettlement. Passionate about diversity, she has contributed to projects worldwide, including mentoring in an orphanage in Trinidad, supporting individuals with learning difficulties in Malawi, and developing a special education program with an inclusive arts NGO in Cambodia.

Having trained in Theraplay® Nikki is orking towards certification and is eager to help families and groups strengthen attachments and connections through fun, creative, and playful activities. Nikki’s commitment to inclusion and her adventurous spirit make her a remarkable advocate for positive change.

In her free time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors and traveling in her campervan with her dog, Mango.