Animal Assisted Interventions - SEMH

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.
Develop an understanding of low mood and anxiety.
Improve self-awareness.
Gain a better understanding of own feelings.
Recognise the beneﬁts of safe, structured human-animal interactions.
Develop a better understanding of individual triggers for low mood and anxiety.
To identify strategies of self care/relaxation.
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 and Young people with Healthy Relationships

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children and young people who demonstrate a need to understand the importance of healthy and unhealthy relationships. 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.

Supporting Children and Young People Build Confidence, Self-Esteem and Resilience

This 6 week animal assisted intervention programme is designed for children and young people 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 are experiencing low confidence and self-esteem
To help young people build their resilience and assertiveness
To raise awareness of the importance of building confidence and self-esteem
To provide a safe environment for people to explore personal difficulties and feelings
To learn how to talk about personal issues with a trusted adult
To value confidence and resilience in self and others
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.

Latest

Tea with a Twist - 03/02/22

Join us for our Tea with a Twist events with a selection of biscuits and hot/cold drinks included, while meeting some of our Animals.
Baby & Toddler - Sensory Play & Animals - 11/03/22

Join us for our Baby and Toddler - Animal Interactions Group and let your child explore our sensory centre, while meeting some of our animals.
Case Studies: Adults

See how our Animal Assisted Therapy helps support the mental health and wellbeing of Adults in the community.
Case Studies: Young People

Coming Soon!

Case Studies: Children

Read about the journeys of some children who have attended our 1:1 and Group Animal Assisted Therapy/Intervention programmes and what they thought of our activities.
Animal Assisted Activities

Animal Assisted Activities are well-being sessions for children and young people utilising animals and delivered by a Mental Health First Aider for Children and Young People.
TRH Duke & Duchess of Cambridge Visit HugglePetsCIC

The Duke and Duchess visited our fantastic Sensory Activity Centre and Community Aquarium on the 13th May 2021, as part of #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.
Burnt Tree Primary School

Take a look at how Burnt Tree Primary School took advantage of our Animal Assisted Intervention programmes for their children, in supporting their Emotional, Social and Mental Wellbeing. Take a look inside one of our sessions with our Animals
Yew Tree Primary School

Take a look at how Yew Tree Primary School took advantage of our Animal Assisted Intervention programmes for their children, to support them with Low Mood and Anxiety.
Dovecote Primary School

Take a look at how Dovecote Primary School took advantage of our Animal Assisted Intervention programmes for their children, in supporting their Emotional, Social and Mental Wellbeing. Take a look at the range of animals the children met during their activities.
Joseph Leckie Academy

Take a look at how Joseph Leckie Academy took advantage of our Animal Assisted Intervention programmes for their children, in supporting their Emotional, Social and Mental Wellbeing.
Loxdale Primary

Take a look at how Loxdale Primary School took advantage of our Animal Assisted Intervention programmes for their children, in supporting their Emotional, Social and Mental Wellbeing, and even met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Our Lady St Chads Catholic Academy

Take a look at how Our Lady's St Chads Catholic Academy took advantage of our Animal Assisted Intervention programmes for their young people, in supporting their Emotional, Social and Mental Wellbeing.
St. Patricks Catholic Primary Academy

Take a look at how St. Patricks Catholic Primary Academy took advantage of our Animal Assisted Intervention programmes for their children, in supporting their Emotional, Social and Mental Wellbeing.