A new horse therapy centre in North London is struggling to cope with demand, with a growing waiting list of vulnerable young people needing its help.
Full capacity
With more than one in ten 16-24 year olds in London not in education or employment, Learning Through Horses (LTH) is running at full capacity, just one year after becoming established as a charity.
LTH works with adults and young people in London, whoface challenges in their lives – from learning difficulties to drug and alcohol addiction, and mental health issues to abusive childhoods.
What they all have in common is they find it hard to engage with education and employment.
Alternative education
The stables provide alternative education programmes, teaching students about horse behaviour and non-violent training techniques. This provides them with the skills and self-belief needed to reintegrate into society.
The charity’s main programme is theEmployability and Horsemanship SkillsProgramme, which leads to a QCF accredited Prince’s Trust qualification in Employability & Personal Development Skills.
Positive changes
Since opening in November 2014, LTH has offered courses to 80 vulnerable young people and adults. An incredible 100% of participants are now in employment, full-time education or are volunteering in a field relevant to their career interest.
“It’s working with the horses that gives students the skills and confidence to make positive changes in their lives,” said LTH founder Rosie Edwards.
However, the charity has been inundated with people needing its help and has a long waiting list from referring organisations.
Horses help!
To help meet the demand for its services LTH is running a JustGiving campaign for Christmas called ‘Horses Help!’. It also calling for peopleto share their stories about how horses have helped them, viasocial media using #HorsesHelp.
“We know horses help, and we want others to share their stories about how horses have helped them in their life, perhaps helping them get through a difficult times, or reach their goals,” said Rosie.
“We urgently need to raise funds to give people who struggle to engage in mainstream learning the opportunity complete our course, in which the horses are the catalysts for change.”