Changing lives through horses: Sunderland education programme to help disengaged young people

When children and young adults are at risk of being excluded from school or have additional educational needs, Penshaw Equestrian Centre is offering alternative education courses to get them back on track for their life journey
Finding the right fit for your child – this Sunderland equestrian programme can help disengaged children to learnFinding the right fit for your child – this Sunderland equestrian programme can help disengaged children to learn
Finding the right fit for your child – this Sunderland equestrian programme can help disengaged children to learn

Horses are therapeutic animals who can inspire children to learn and grow in confidence; and that’s the ethos behind an innovative scheme which is given children in the North East an alternative to mainstream education.

Changing Lives Through Horses offers an alternative education programme of regular sessions for five to 25-year olds when they are disengaged from mainstream education – and British Horse Society (BHS) approved riding centres, with qualified Accredited Professional Coaches, can provide it.

Experienced coach Kim Knowles APC and the team at PEC are helping children in Sunderland and across the North-East from Penshaw Equestrian Centre at Houghton le Spring.

Want a different approach to school lessons? This innovative programme teaches new skillsWant a different approach to school lessons? This innovative programme teaches new skills
Want a different approach to school lessons? This innovative programme teaches new skills

Kim explains: “When children are at risk of exclusion and are disengaged with education, we can help to support them with their needs and give them confidence by learning new skills to re-engage. We hope it will help them to grow academically and hopefully get the confidence back to get back into education or employment.

“Children learn differently and come from different backgrounds and this is a way to keep them in education, while providing an alternative option to support them.”

How it works

The programme offered by Penshaw Equestrian Centre creates a plan which covers key life skills and subjects you would expect to usually find in the classroom, likes maths and English.

For example, teamwork, responsibility and perseverance are taught through tasks such as mucking out, grooming and riding horses.

If we want to teach maths, then what better way than working out food rations for a horse or costing and ordering new tack?

For English lessons, there are projects with reports to write up. Then for a practical challenge and confidence building, children and young people learn how to actually ride a horse.

They also learn how to commit to the programme and stick at it, which in itself can be life-changing for some young people.

The results

Kim added: “After they have completed their programme, children say that they love it here and don’t want to leave. They find it exciting and feel that it’s given them a new chance to learn something new.”

How do I get started?

For young people aged between five and 25-years, a referral is needed either from their school or an organisation supporting them. Parents and guardians can aid referrals. Some BHS bursary funding is also available for children who are unable to access funding.

For more information and help with the referral form – or just to discuss the programme – get in touch with Kim, the lead coach on the programme, at penshaw-equestrian.ecpro.co.uk or email [email protected]

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