Would your pupils benefit from a Social, Emotional, Mental Health and Wellbeing Session? 

HugglePets in the Community are offering schools in the Black Country an opportunity to book a series of 6 week sessions with our animals and trained Therapist to help children and young people and support their mental health and wellbeing. 

What are Animal Assisted Interventions?  

Animal Assisted Interventions are wellbeing sessions with animals, delivered by a Therapist/Counsellor who specialise in working with Children and Young People. 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. 

Who are the sessions aimed at?  

The sessions are targeted at children and young people struggling with their mental wellbeing, we have a wide range of programmes we deliver in a group setting detailed below. 

Do you offer One-to-One Animal Assisted Interventions/Therapy? 

Yes, we offer one-to-one sessions, just contact us by clicking here, and we will be able to discuss how this might support your pupils. 

Our trained therapists are able to offer Animal Assisted Intervention Sessions for up to 8 pupils:

Supporting Children & Young People with Low Mood and Anxiety 

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children with Low Mood or Anxiety problems. Our trained therapists and animals will include the following:

• Enhance ability to recognise and process emotions.
• Improve self-awareness.
• Gain a better understanding of own feelings. 
• Learn useful relaxation and mindfulness techniques.
• Recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions.
• Develop a better understanding of individual triggers for low mood and anxiety.
• Develop an effective self-care routine.
• Learn how to talk about personal issues with a trusted adult.
• Improve personal self-empowerment.
• Learn how to identify positives and supportive factors

Supporting Children exposed to Domestic Abuse - Healthy Relationships 

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children exposed to domestic abuse. Our trained therapists and animals will include the following:

• To enhance ability to recognise and process emotions.
• To improve self-awareness.
• To gain a better understanding of healthy and unhealthy relationships.
• To improve confidence and self-esteem.
• To recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions.
• To develop better and healthier social skills.
• To learn how to talk about personal issues with a trusted adult.
• To improve personal self-empowerment.
• To learn how to identify positives and supportive factors

Depression and Suicide Prevention Awareness and Education Workshops 

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for young people (senior school age) who are struggling with feelings of depression and may experience suicidal thoughts. Our trained therapists and animals will include the following:

• To provide support to people who may experience suicidal thoughts and feelings of depression.
• To offer general support for suicide-prevention in secondary schools.
• Explore the link between depression and suicidal thoughts.
• To assess risk and reduce at-risk behaviour.
• To promote education about the link between depression and suicide including risk factors, warning signs, stigma-related issues and available support.
• To provide a safe environment for people to explore personal difficulties and feelings.
• To recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions.

Bullying Stops Here! - Confidence and Resilience Building

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children who have been experienced bullying, to support them improve their confidence and build resilience. Our trained therapists and animals will include the following:

• To provide support to young people who have experienced bullying.
• To offer support to children who are struggling with self-confidence and self-esteem.
• To help young people build their resilience and assertiveness.
• To reduce the at-risk of bullying for young people in school.
• To raise awareness about bullying and the importance of building confidence.
• To provide a safe environment for people to explore personal difficulties and feelings.
• To recognise the benefits of safe, structured human-animal interactions.

Coming Soon

• Supporting Young Carers with their Mental Health 
• Supporting Children and Young People who Self Harm 

All of our sessions include an outcome measure to ensure that the sessions are productive and tailored to the needs of pupils.

We are able to offer Schools these sessions partly funded depending on grants and fundraising events. 

If your school would be interested in booking a series of 6 week programmes with HugglePets in the Community please contact us here.