Would your pupils benefit from a Wellbeing Session with Animals? 

HugglePets in the Community are offering schools/organisations/home school groups in the Black Country an opportunity to book a series of 6 week sessions with our animals and trained therapy and wellbeing team to help children and young people with their mental health and wellbeing. 

What is the New Wellbeing Programme? 

The Wellbeing Programme with animals is delivered by our therapy and wellbeing team along with our therapy animals. This programme is unlike any other programme we deliver. We have designed all of the sessions using science experiments, games, arts and crafts, animal handling and training and explorative sensory play for ultimate engagement and interaction. Making the topics come to life through team building, bushtucker trials and most importantly learning through fun! 

We have 11 topics that schools can choose from to make up a 6 or 12 week programme. Below is an overview of each topic. 

Emotions:

Learning Intentions: 

• Understanding different Emotions 
• Understanding bodily sensations relating to Emotions 
• Understanding potential triggers to different Emotions 
• Trying different emotional regulation techniques and their impact 

Confidence:

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand what confidence means 
• Exploring different steps to confidence 
• Complete a Bushtucker Trial 
• Explore various aspects of Self-Care  

Self Esteem:

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand what Self-Esteem is
• Understand what can impact our self-esteem?  
• Understand how we can improve our self-esteem?  
• Identify and explore self-care techniques   

Anxiety:

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand Anxiety and its impact
• Understand our Stress Bucket
• Explore coping methods for anxiety and self care techniques 

Resilience: 

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand what resilience is
• Explore positivity and its impact on resilience   
• Identify a trusted adult  
• Practice self-care techniques   

Relationships: 

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand Healthy and Unhealthy relationships
• Understand their rights to a healthy environment
• How to be a good friend (looking at positive behaviours)
• Identify a trusted adult   

Anger: 

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand Anger - the natural emotion! 
• Understand the negative impact of anger  
• Managing our Anger
• Explore self-care techniques and positive steps forward    

Social Skills: 

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand what social skills are 
• Understand what verbal and non-verbal skills are
• Use verbal and non-verbal skills for conversations 

 Empathy: 

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand how other people feel
• Understand the needs of others 
• Build skills to become more empathetic 

Change/Transitions: 

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand different types of change 
• Understand the impact of change 
• Explore different ways to cope with change. 

Bullying:

Learning Intentions: 

• Understand what a bully is 
• Understand different types of bullying  
• Identify ways to speak out if you are being bullied 
• Explore ways to look after yourself if you are being bullied 

Below are two ways you can run the wellbeing topics:

The Wellness Programme	The Wellbeing Programme
This is a separate programme of pre-allocated topics that we have designed based on the most commonly picked themes in schools/organisations.  Emotions Relationships  Anxiety  Confidence Resilience  Self Esteem	This is the traditional programme, where schools/organisations can book a 12 week programme for their children and young people.  Emotions Relationships  Anxiety  Confidence Resilience  Self Esteem Bullying Empathy Change/Transitions Anger Social Skills

Who are the sessions aimed at?  

The sessions are targeted at children and young people with special educational needs or those with behavioural needs who struggle to access mental health support in traditional settings. Sessions are for those aged 7 and above. 

Do your programmes meet the National Curriculum for Mental Wellbeing? 

Yes, our programmes have been designed and developed to meet elements of the new RSE Curriculum with regards to Mental Health and Relationships. We have also cross mapped all activities to Mentally Healthy Schools. Please ask a member of staff for more details. 

What is the cost of the 6 week Wellbeing Programme? 

The 6 week programme is partially funded via grants and fundraising activities, therefore please contact us to find out costs. 

How many children can join a group? 

You can have up to 10 children in a group, over the programme. 

What animals will be in the sessions? 

We have a wide range of animals from reptiles like Stick Insects, Bearded Dragons, Millipedes, Gekos and Tortoises to a range of furries such as Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Murphy the Dog. We also have a massive range of Fish in our Community Aquarium. 

How do we book? 

You can book your 6 week programme by enquiring with us by clicking here. 

Where are you based, do you offer this programme in Schools? 

We are based at HugglePets, Cooper Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 2JL. These sessions are primarily based in the Sensory Activity Centre and Community Aquarium at the HugglePets Centre, but can be delivered in schools where necessary.