NEWS - June 2017: We have finally moved into our fantastic new permanent home in Weymouth. At almost the same time we have won an FSI BIG Impact Award which means we will be showcased to govt. See the 4 minute video they made about us on our Crowdfunder site - oh yes, we are fundraising for renovations to the new place!
TheHorseCourse
Leaders in well-evidenced high impact equine-assisted interventions. Having proven our work in prisons, we have established a busy community-based HQ in Weymouth, Dorset, UK. Employing 3 facilitators and 12 horses, we work primarily with young people 8-24yrs old and families, with additional projects for specific adult cohorts (see below). In Dorset we help at least 200 extremely troubled people each year, for free.
We train and assess others to replicate our programmes and we work hard to support them in setting up their own centres around the UK, with funding being the greatest hurdle. Our independent centres in Gloucester, Barnet (North London) and Wiltshire are increasingly busy and a centre is soon to open in Surrey.
TheHorseCourse ReStart
Participants are by referral only, from Schools & PRUs, Social Services, NHS Mental Health Services, Troubled Families, Offender Services and other specialist agencies.
Our participants have serious problems – typically more than four from the list below. And they are referred because they are ‘stuck’ or disengaged from talk-based support. We teach, rehearse and repeat key resilience skills in an intensive and challenging, but fun, 5 day programme with feedback in-the-moment from specially trained horses and 1-to-1 facilitator support.
- anxiety diagnosis
- ADHD
- ASD
- not attending school (training, work)
- relationship difficulties
- mood swings/impulsivity
- highly disengaged
- self harming
- bullying, aggression, anger management issues
- being bullied
- risk taking behavior
- drug & alcohol misuse
- eating disorder
- offending
- domestic violence
- neglect / abuse
- poor parenting
- parents with mental health problems, offending or D&A
- living in care or leaving care
- from area of high deprivation
- homeless
- wounded in service
Lighter Touch options
In addition to the intensive ReStart we offer Lighter Touch options such as top ups, tailored sessions and group work - different ways to help people at a lower level of need or to provide longer term support after a ReStart course.
Outcomes
We are held up as an exemplar in our approach to evidencing the outcomes of our work (see evidence).A report published by NPC & CLINKS and peer reviewed by CSAAP (the academic panel at the Ministry of Justice) showed a 27 % point reduction in reoffending (where 10% is large).
A study by Bournemouth University is tracking the outcomes for our young people post-course at 2 months and 12 months and results show that 80%+:
- are less anxious (with 33% average improvement)
- have reduced problem behaviours,
- improved attendance/engagement at school
- better relationships
- increased self belief
Awards
- Dorset County Council Innovation Award 2016
- School for Social Entrepreneurs Fellowship 2016
- BLF Peoples Project 2016
- Shortlisted for the Guardian Small Charity Awards 2015
- Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship 2013
- Shackleton Award 2011
Non-verbals for professionals
We offer frontline professionals a half-day training in our specialism - reading and responding to non-verbal behaviour. A game-changer with difficult or disengaged clients.
To refer
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.g for referral and consent forms.
