We provide an intervention/support for our clients which is tailored to suit their individual needs and targets. We use a lot of animal interaction and outdoor activities which can benefit the children in various ways. Currently we have clients from the age of 5 years old, right up to students in college. We support students who display challenging behavior within their educational setting, students who are struggling to develop social skills and students who find regulating their emotions tricky, or young people struggling with anxiety. We work closely with the team at their schools to provide the most beneficial input to enable them to best achieve their targets. We offer one to one sessions or group sessions. One to one session, the student will be with a member of our team and engage in a range of activities that they enjoy. Some of our children love the animals and regularly interact with the horses, chickens, dogs, pigs, sheep and goats, others prefer to be more hands on and do construction activities. We go for nature walks with the animals to our local ford, or around the nature trail on our farm.
We feed the animals, brush them, ride the horses, learn how to look after them, muck them out etc. We also make campfires for toasting marshmallows and cooking ration packs, den building, outdoor games, arts and crafts, woodwork and construction, learning about nature etc. Some of our children come to us to simply build self-esteem, confidence and relationships. Others come to us to explore their identity, learn how to develop social skills and identify their emotions. We aim to incorporate learning whilst they don’t really realise, they are doing so. For example, we often use the horses as examples of emotions and relationships (i.e. how do you think that horse would feel if …)? Quite often children find it easier to put this into context before thinking about how they would feel themselves.
Our sessions are tailored around each individual and what they feel comfortable doing. Some children enjoy mixing with other clients, others prefer being one to one, we are very flexible. At the end of each session we fill out feedback forms with the students to gauge what they enjoyed/didn’t enjoy/whether they’ve learnt anything/what they’d like to do next time etc. We have been able to help so many children already who have positively flourished in a setting that allows them to escape the demands of the educational environment.
Session fees are £25 per hour per head. Sessions can be booked in weekly blocks (i.e. 6 weeks, 8 weeks etc) with view to extending or left open for however long the student requires the input. Sessions can vary in length, depending on the individual child. We can do 1-hour sessions or longer. We usually suggest no longer than 4 hours as it can be challenging to maintain concentration and attention for this length of time. For sessions that extend over the lunch time period, children can bring lunch with them. We have a ‘classroom’ area which we base ourselves in, or in the warmer months we can have picnics outside with the animals. We do ask that any children attending have an adult with them (either a TA or a parent or similar). We also ask that a referral form is completed by school or the parent prior to any student starting with us which provides us with as much background information as possible so that we can offer the most effective support.
Summer activities
We are fast approaching the end of the academic year with summer holidays on the horizon.
If you are at a loose end with what to do with the young ‘uns, rain or shine, we are here.
Lots of fun activities such as;
Grooming the horses and ponies
Campfires and marshmallows…ssshhh..and maybe some ‘smores’
Feeding the goats, pigs, ducks, sheep and chickens
Nature walks
Picnics with ponies at the nearby ford
Den building
Games
Outdoor games
Arts and crafts
And much, much more…
We will be opening our gates to the public from Monday 22nd July from 0900 -12 and 1300-1500, Monday to Fri, throughout July and August. Hourly rate of £5 per child. If you would like to book a place, please contact Dawn, Youth Services Manager, on 07948404986 or email dawn@hugsfoundation.org.uk
Succesfully re-homed!After spending 1 year and 9 months here at Hugs Batman & Robin have finally found their new forever home!
Batman & Robin were broken in by Sue-Joy Keeping and before they had even finished their training they were reserved!
They finally moved into their new home on 17th June. The team are so proud of how far they have come and we are so glad they have gone as a pair.
They are now going to spend a life time of being spoilt and they are going to be teaching children how to ride on the beach?
Success!
Paddy & Guinness were saved from Chagford market back in 2017. They have blossomed as a pair and we have always wanted them to be re-homed together and it finally happened!
These two gorgeous boys have found their new forever home up in Surrey.
They are going to be joining a herd of working driving horses and when they reach the right age they will be broken to drive too!
They have an amazing opportunity ahead of them with lots of love, training, knowledge and friends. They certainly landed on their feet the day they were rescued!
THANK YOU!
Proper Cornish has recently picked us as their chosen charity of the year.
They have already done some amazing things to help us, including donations of pasty vouchers! However their most recent fundraising event was Bodmin’s Ten Tours! Wow! The Proper Cornish team finished the Bodmin Ten Tors in a fantastic 4 hours 58 minutes – raising an amazing £560 for The Hugs Foundation in the process!
Here they are at the top of Brown Willy. We cannot thank Proper Cornish for all the support! They have also just released that they will be down at Bodmin Asda on Saturday 1st June to collect money for us! How amazing!
For more information on the product they have available please visit:
As a horse rescue charity we often take in horses that have serious and long term health conditions or in the ‘golden oldies’ categories.
These horses need a lot of care with ongoing vets fees, remedial farriers, regular dental and physiotherapy visits plus feed, hay, bedding … the list is endless!
We are therefore asking for donations to help us, help them.
A regular standing order of just £5 would pay for a bale of hay every month.
Imagine if all our supporters donated?
The Hugs Foundation will always try to help horses that need us, however in order to do this, we do need your help.
You can change the horses future with regular donation.
Our Bank details are: The Hugs Foundation.
Sort Code : 40-45-10
Account number: 41534998
If you need any more information or help please contact us today on gemma@hugsfoundation.org.uk or ring 07539916048
You can also donate via our website, Facebook and Paypal.
