Equine Assisted Services For Children And Young People With Additional Needs
Need
Many children and young people in the UK are currently missing out on the opportunity to learn lifelong transferable skills as they are being failed by the education system.
There are many reasons for this including:
- children and young people with additional needs often must wait months or years both for a diagnosis and then to be placed in an appropriate educational setting
- a lack of suitable training for educational professionals
- a lack of alternative education provision.
Solution
Equustrong UK offers equine-assisted services enabling children and young people with additional needs a non-classroom-based environment in which they can learn and develop a range of lifelong transferable skills they will be able to use throughout their life and in the workplace.
There is a wide body of research that shows that these skills can successfully be taught to these target groups through the programmes we offer helping them both educationally and emotionally
Impact
The lifelong transferable skills children and young people learn at Equustrong UK provides them with invaluable tools to use throughout their lives and to potentially take into the workplace.
Why Horses?
Horses are not only our best friends, but they are also our teachers, and they help us to open up and embrace ourselves.
They make such a positive impact on the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of children and young people.
Caring for horses allows children and young people to form long lasting bonds and helps them to learn how to nurture and take care of them in the safest way.
Daily horse care plays a role in developing compassion, responsibility, and empathy – all of which are key skills for starting new, and maintaining, friendships. It also develops physical fitness and can play a role in regular physical activity in a child’s life.
What are the benefits?
Children and Young people who care for animals and horses show better:
- Decision making/problem solving
- Thinking / planning
- Communication
- Goal setting
Horse riding can benefit children and young people by improving their:
- Coordination
- Balance
- Fine motor skills
- Muscular strength and endurance
• Posture and flexibility
Making a Referral to Equustrong UK
We welcome referrals from Schools, LEAs, GPs; other medical staff (including counsellors; occupational therapists and physiotherapists) as well as from other charities and non-profit making organisations working with children and young people with additional needs.
To make a referral please contact us:
Help us support those in need
As we are a charity, we are solely reliant on donations and the generosity of the public. Help us to continue to deliver this vital service and donate today.