Evidence-based creative arts specialist support services
The Green House is a charity which offers support for children, young people and families who live in Avon and Somerset and who have experienced sexual abuse.
We have been providing therapy for adult survivors of sexual abuse since the 1970s. We were formerly known as the Avon Sexual Abuse Centre and in 2010 created a children’s service.
In 2019 we moved to St. Agnes Lodge, our therapy and family support service centre in St Pauls, Bristol.
In January 2022, we decided to focus solely on supporting children and families so that children could have access to timely, specialist support services that were right for them.
Learn More
The Green House has been providing therapy for people affected by sexual abuse for over 30 years.
Our mission
At the Green House we believe in providing support led by what young people and their families have told us. We want to build relationships with and between families who have experienced sexual abuse. Our services have a creative arts focus because we believe in the power of creativity in helping families to rebuild their lives after abuse experiences. Research guides everything we do. It helps us to understand our service and develop best practice nationally. It helps survivors to speak out and influence change.
You can read more about the Green House’s mission through our Annual Reports to the Charities Commission.
Our Impact
In 2022 we supported a total of 115 children and young people. This group was made up of:
29 5-12 year olds
26 13-15 year olds
60 17-18 year olds
15 were supported with online therapy (service launched October 2022) and 23 were supported with pre-trial therapy
During this period TGH provided 965 hours of one-to-one therapy.
83% of children and young people felt their mental health had improved by the end of therapy
66% reported improved resilience following therapy
72% reported improved social connections following therapy
An Impact That Makes a Difference
“Inspiring support from inspiring people. You have turned a dark situation into hope, we can look to the future for the first time in 3 years. Thank you.” Parent
“The Green House helped me to feel like myself again, to be more confident to trust myself and other people.” Young person
Our Values
At the Green House we believe that children, young people, and families should be able to design, deliver and choose services that are right for them. We combine research, practice expertise and lived experience to deliver innovative whole family services that can support survivors to rebuild their lives after sexual abuse.
We believe that we can work together with children, young people, and families to make positive changes for the future. Survivors’ voices are at the heart of everything we do
We trust in the power of creativity to help process trauma, raise visibility of CSA and develop the evidence base and new ways of working in the sector
We are committed to creating a community of strong and empowered voices by nurturing safe, trusting, and inspiring relationships with families and services
Our Board of Trustees
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Steve Livings
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A police officer for over 30 years in the Avon & Somerset Constabulary, Steve retired in 2001 having served as Chief Superintendent and the District Police Commander for South Bristol. He is currently the Safeguarding Chair for the Catholic Church’s Clifton Diocese. Steve has been active with The Green House for 15 years. As Chair he leads the Trustees to fulfill our charitable aims.
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Yasmin Metcalfe
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Yasmin has had an extensive career in trust governance, advising trustees and directors, as well as being a Senior Associate for Companies House. She has advised high ranking officials in the military and is an author for the law society on trust regulation and compliance. She holds a certificate in Offshore Finance and Administration and is a member of the Association of Tax Technicians.
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Nick Marston
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Nick Marston is a Barrister who has specialised in Family Work. He was the Designated Family Judge for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 2008/2013. Deputy High court Judge from 2007. He returned to sit in Bristol 2013 and was appointed Lead Judge for Court of Protection in Southwest Region in 2009. He retired as CJ 2020 but continued to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge 2020-2021 part time. He is qualified as a Family Mediator for Children.
His work has involved dealing with allegations of sexual abuse on children and its consequences which has provided him an extensive professional experience of therapists and therapy, and child psychologists.
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Dr Janet Reibstein
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Janet Reibstein is Professor Emerita in the School of Psychology at the University of Exeter, where she directed the postgraduate programme in family and couple therapy, as well as running a research and clinical training psychotherapy clinic.
Janet has advised for a number of campaigns, government groups and research and training organisations as a Clinical Consultant. She has been a member of the Clinical Advisory Board of Relate and on the Board of the Employer Initiative on Domestic Abuse.
She is also the author of several books on relationships, marriage, and the family, and numerous publications, both in the academic and in the popular media. Including a documentary series, Love Life (Channel 4), which was based on her clinical work and research.
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Dr Susan O'Connor
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Susan is a part time Consultant Psychiatrist in Adult Community Mental Health for Somerset Foundation Trust. During her 45-year-old career she has had a number of posts in the Health service, in Policy development and in the Voluntary sector, including working as senior clinical advisor in the Department of Health and a Medical Director for one of the largest mental Health Trusts in England.
Susan was awarded a National Gold Clinical Excellence award in 2003 and has acted as an advisor to a range of national bodies and other organisations helping to shape National Mental Health Policy.
She is passionately committed to improving the experience of Mental Health service users and carers, and has a long history of tackling discrimination and stigma, promoting diversity and raising awareness of mental health issues.
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Rob Senior
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Miranda Payne – Board Secretary
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Since graduating from the University of Bristol, Miranda has worked in administrative and operational charity roles. She has developed a passion for the small charity sector and the importance of good leadership and governance. She is an aspiring trustee and leader in the charity sector. Having grown up in a fostering household, Miranda has witnessed first-hand some of the negative effects that abuse and trauma can have on children. She is delighted to be able to support The Green House in their vital work to help children in these situations.
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Dr Lucy Martin
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Lucy is a specialist in high-value Philanthropy, strategy and cross-sector partnerships. Her background is as an academic, where her focus was on the way charities can come together to more effectively tackle sexual abuse. She has previously worked as an ISVA (supporting clients to navigate the criminal justice system) and served as Chair of Trustees for Survive (a York-based charity providing support for survivors of sexual abuse). Lucy currently works building relationships with Philanthropists and Trusts for children’s charity Read for Good.
