Big Leaf Foundation
  • Home
  • About us
    • Our history
    • Annual review
    • Funders and partners
    • Vacancies
    • Contact
  • What we do
  • Referral
  • Casework
  • Support us
  • Volunteer


​ 
​ 
​

Stability | Building skills through equine-assisted learning

September 2024
We’re working with The Heart Centre to offer a specialist equine-assisted learning programme for displaced young people in Surrey.
 
We’ve seen first-hand, through our previous programmes, the positive impact that working with horses has on the young people and thanks to funding from the Community Foundation for Surrey, we’re delighted to be able to continue this programme into 2025.

Our Stability programme gives young people the chance to spend time with horses – developing skills in communication, coaching, horsemanship and English language. Horses can play a significant role in mental wellbeing and at the heart of this programme is a therapeutic focus on self-esteem and coping mechanisms for responding to trauma and distress.

Over the six sessions, participants learn to develop relationships with their horses, through activities like grooming, mucking out and learning how to communicate instructions and understand the horse’s response. 
The focus then moves to trust and undertaking challenges with their partners (horse and human) where trust is essential, including moving around an obstacle course blindfolded and trekking around the beautiful local bridle paths.
“They loved the equine programme… I have noticed a big change in their emotional wellbeing, they appear more content, are sleeping better, feeling less anxious and looking forward to their future. It’s wonderful.”
Tracy, Key worker
“It was my best days. The horses were my friends and they understand my language.” 
​Stability participant.
For more information about the programme or to refer a young person, please email [email protected]

project archive

Two young people looking at a horse

Our first Stability project

Our first round of the Stability project in March 2020.
A young person leading a horse

Horses at Trill Farm

The first time we introduced horses into our programming.

in partnership with...

Picture of the heart centre logo

funded by...

Picture

Get news and updates >

PrivacY | SAFEGUARDING | contacT

PO Box 1655, Guildford, GU1 9JS
[email protected]

​UK Registered Charity Number: 1181180
​Copyright © 2022
  • Home
  • About us
    • Our history
    • Annual review
    • Funders and partners
    • Vacancies
    • Contact
  • What we do
  • Referral
  • Casework
  • Support us
  • Volunteer