A charity that uses horse power to unlock the silent world of struggling children has used a housing association grant to add a therapy garden to its smallholding near Northallerton.
Avalar Equine Therapy supports those with special educational needs, PTSD, mental health difficulties, communication difficulties and depression.
Trustee Gemma Parkes, a special needs teacher for 20 years, says the charity helps fill a gap for increasing numbers of children, especially, teenage girls, who are unable to cope with mainstream schooling, lack confidence, struggle to form relationships with peers and suffer anxiety and lack of confidence.
“There is no pressure here and it’s amazing to see the transformation that can take place,” said Gemma.
“The animals are very calming and quite often the users will talk with them whilst grooming or exercising when they haven’t spoken to people for months – it can be a real breakthrough moment.”
Once confidence is gained, users can open up about their struggles and their hopes. Working with the horses helps gain confidence and users have then gone on to return to study either independently or at school and college.
A grant of £500 from Broadacres, from its Community Development Fund, has helped create a sensory therapy garden, providing an outdoor break-out space where users can take a time out, have lunch, work on their Unit Awards, chat and relax whilst enjoying the outdoors and fresh air. Levelling out the area means those with mobility, sight or balance issues can still enjoy it.
“It’s very rewarding to see how time with the animals can benefit people,” said Gemma. “For one teenage girl this was the first place she ever stayed without a parent being at her side – now she has secured a two day a week college placement.”
The Broadacres Community Development Fund supports local organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes. All grants are approved by the Association’s own residents.
To apply to the Fund visit https://www.broadacres.org.uk/customer-area/getting-involved/community-development-fund/
To find out more on Avalar Equine Therapy visit: www.avalarequinetherapy.co.uk
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