Celebrity supporters rally round Crowdfunder campaign to build London’s first dedicated equine therapy stables
With mental health among young people in London at a breaking point, the capital is at risk of losing one of its most effective mental health services. A service with an unbelievable track record of helping young people improve their mental wellbeing when all other services are failing. The secret? The therapists are horses.
Sadly, charity Strength and Learning Through Horses is at risk of having to close its doors to young people unless £150,000 can be found to turn the derelict site (above), found after 5 years of searching, into London’s first dedicated equine therapy stables. Today, the charity launches its ‘Home our Horses’ campaign, in a bid to make this life-changing facility a reality.
A number of celebrities have voiced their support for this important campaign including Singer & Songwriter Allegra, TV Presenter Clare Balding CBE, BBC Vet Dr James Greenwood, Author Emily Haworth-Booth, and Poet Hussain Manawar as well as some of the most respected figures from the horse world; Kelly Marks, Harrison Ashton, Ben Atkinson & Miri Hackett.
Strength and Learning Through Horses is a small charity with big ambitions; to revolutionise the way in which young people who are socially isolated and / or excluded from education are supported to redefine themselves, build a positive self-identity and improve their mental health. Their ‘secret weapon’ is a workforce of horses, which the charity utilises to engage young people to accept help from an expert team of Clinical Psychologists, Mental Health Specialists and Horse Behaviour professionals. The team provides not only mental health interventions but also alternative education provision. The results are life-changing: The charity has a 10 year track record of success in helping young people improve their mental health when traditional methods and educational interventions have failed.
The four-legged therapists
Horses will mirror anxious behaviour from humans, run away from someone showing anger and have little energy around someone behaving very passively. These responses shown in the horses’ behaviours help young people to identify and understand their own emotions and actions, giving them the opportunity to see things from a different perspective; try out new ways of relating to themselves and others; recognise their strengths; and build positive identities.
Dr Jemma Hockley, Strength and Learning Through Horses CEO & Clinical Lead, says: “For many of our young people we are the only activity they do that gets them to leave the house, and many haven’t been at school for over two years. We often start our work in the car park as many will be struggling to get out of the car. A horse is very engaging therapy tool, you can’t really ignore its presence and feedback. Young people may not want to engage with humans at first but they will always be aware of the horse.”
On the charity’s methods, Jemma continues, “Rather than focus on their story, which our young people will have told professionals a million times, instead we focus on them ‘training’ the horses to deal with an array of situations. In turn, trust is built and conversations directed through the horses slowly become about the young people themselves, so we can address what might help them.”
The campaign
Since the start of the Covid pandemic, Strength and Learning Through Horses has seen a huge influx of referrals from young people in crisis. Recently the charity has been unable to meet the demand for support, having outgrown its current home in Barnet, London. With the lease on its existing stables coming to an end shortly, the charity is at risk of having to close its doors to young people in mental health crisis.
Thankfully, with the help of Barnet Council, SLTH has secured a new, larger site which will cement the future of the charity and give it the opportunity to grow and expand its services, reaching more young people in need than ever before.
The buildings at the new site are currently derelict and unsafe for use so the charity is asking the public to help to raise £150,000 by September 2022 to turn the site into a safe and usable equine therapy centre, via Crowdfunder campaign.
Rosie Bensley, Strength and Learning Through Horses CEO & Education Lead, says: “At a time when young people are in need of mental health interventions and educational opportunities that work for them more than ever before, it’s vital that this service doesn’t have to close it’s doors or one of the most innovative and effective ways of improving the lives of marginalised and excluded people in London will be lost.”
Members of the public can donate to the campaign via Crowdfunder:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/home-our-horses
www.strengthandlearningthroughhorses.org
facebook.com/learningthroughhorses
twitter.com/SandLTH
instagram.com/strengthandlearningthruhorses
Pablo*, Young Person
“I don’t even want to think about what I’d do without this place. It saves my life every week and is the only thing that gets me out of bed and makes me think I have value”
Frances*, Young Person
“If the centre shut down I don’t think I’d be as much of a happy person anymore. This place has built my confidence up and if the place shut down I don’t know what I’d do”
Clare Balding, TV Presenter
“I visited the stables in 2018 and I was so impressed with the work being done by Strength and Learning Through Horses. I think they have the potential to help youngsters who feel marginalised by society and who struggle in school. It’s a really valuable asset to the local community and it would be such a loss if it had to shut because of the current situation. If you can help out, please do as I know there are youngsters whose lives will be transformed by them in the future.”
Emily Haworth-Booth, Author & Illustrator
“The horse I ride brings me joy, peace and a sense of purpose, as well as getting me outside in the fresh air. Horses have an almost magical effect on mental and physical health and I want to do everything I can to help Strength and Learning Through Horses bring these enormous benefits to those most in need of them.”
Kelly Marks, Horse Trainer
“I am a Charity Champion for ‘Strength and Learning through Horses’ as I believe that horses can be great teachers for young people.”
