The Purple Elephant Project

Because children should be heard

Welcome to The Purple Elephant Project

We are a children’s mental health charity, supporting over 100 children and their families every week with therapeutic services such as Play and Art therapy across the London boroughs of Richmond, Hounslow and beyond.

We’re here for children and their families facing various challenges such as trauma, anxiety, lack of confidence or sadness. Through specialist therapeutic services tailored to each child’s unique needs, we work to transform lives; enabling children to reach their full potential and a brighter future.

If you care as much as we do about changing a child’s life, why not support us.

You can donate, fundraise or volunteer.

"I think using play to help with my emotions is the best thing in the world"

- child/young person

Our vision

That children feel heard and supported towards happier lives

Our mission

To support children to transform their lives through the provision of high-quality, accessible integrated therapy services

Our location

Located in Twickenham in south west London, supporting children and families to engage with our professional staff and volunteers.

How we help

Services we provide

The Purple Elephant Project offers a range of services, accessible from both our hub space based in Twickenham and through subsidised, outreach work in schools and the local community.
Helping us make a difference

Thank you to our generous supporters

News and information

Latest news, updates and events

boy-playing
Holiday activities ideas

The holidays are a perfect time to nurture children’s creativity, well-being, and emotional growth through.

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Children’s mental health week 2024

This week (5-11 February) marks Children’s Mental Health Week with this year’s theme being; “My Voice.

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Our thanks to Hank Williams

Long-term supporter, Hank Williams has written and published a book called The Ability to Choose..

Our impact

Our impact in numbers

939+ Visits to our hub

We are fortunate to have a wonderful team of therapists who are dedicated to delivering our services to the community

3911+ therapy sessions delivered

We’re proud to have supported thousands of individuals through our wide range of therapy sessions

3087+ hours of therapy provided

Our dedicated team has committed thousands of hours to making a real difference in people’s lives

1952+ hours of parent/carer support

We continue to empower parents and carers with valuable support and guidance every step of the way

Testimonials

Feedback from children & young people

Have any questions?

Frequently asked questions

If you have any questions about us as a charity or regarding the services we provide, please feel free to get in touch and we’ll do our best to answer your queries.

If something doesn’t feel quite right, that’s enough. If you’ve noticed changes in your child’s mood, behaviour, confidence or emotional wellbeing, it may be helpful to seek support. You do not need to wait for a crisis. Early intervention can make a huge difference.

We support children and young people experiencing anxiety, low mood, trauma, grief, emotional regulation difficulties, low confidence and relationship challenges. If you’re unsure whether we’re the right fit, we’re always happy to talk it through.

We believe children thrive when the adults around them feel supported and informed. Alongside therapeutic sessions, we offer parent consultations and guidance to strengthen the wider support network at home. You can find out more about how we support parents here (link to parent page)

It is common for children to feel unsure at first. Our therapists work at each child’s pace, building trust through creative, developmentally appropriate approaches. Establishing safety and a strong therapeutic relationship is always the priority.

You can complete our online referral form or contact us directly to arrange an initial conversation. We will discuss your child’s needs, explain the next steps and provide information about availability and funding options.

How to refer a child

Referrals can be made via a child’s guardian or a professional. Complete our online referral form to start the referral process.