In September 2022, Trefoil awarded £5,000 to Eat Sleep Ride CIC for Project Believe to contribute towards the organisation training service users to become equine therapists as part of their continued recovery and progression towards employability.
“Children & young people have developed coping strategies to better equip them to live healthier, happier, & more fulfilled lives”
Eat Sleep Ride CIC is an accessible, community-led social enterprise that provides therapeutic, educational and community activities to support vulnerable young people to wellness and development.
Since the grant was awarded, six volunteers and service users have completed their mental health first aid, including suicide prevention. One participant has also completed her emergency first aid training session and has been facilitating weekly sessions with a group of seven service users.
Additionally, Eat Sleep Ride CIC has created a custom built sensory and therapy space to ensure privacy and space for coaching, development and play therapy sessions for children and young people.
Project Believe seeks to also have the longer-term impact of benefitting approximately 50 young people per year who are supported through equine therapy by peers with lived experience of childhood trauma.
The work of Project Believe continues as Eat Sleep Ride CIC hope to further develop the skills and experiences of service users and volunteers. Two members through the funding provided are taking a quantum leap and joining a mentoring and Talking Horse program in the new year. Also, a trauma informed approach workshop is being delivered to participants in January 2023.
“All service users are now employed or engaging in training and or further education, enabling them to make more informed and beneficial life choices.”
The Trustees of Trefoil are pleased to hear that the grant has been able to support service users to progress towards employability and that the grant will contribute towards a lasting impact for many young people.