HorseBack UK
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Mission Statement
HorseBack UK inspires positive change, encourages confidence and self esteem, and promotes recovery in an individual. Using horsemanship and outdoor activities, we deliver nationally accredited personal development programmes which offer our participants new coping strategies, life skills and the tools to build resilience.
About This Cause
HorseBack UK is the multi-award-winning Charity based just outside Aboyne, in the Scottish Highlands which works to improve health and well-being by inspiring recovery, positive change and renewed purpose amongst those who need it most and improving education and employment prospects for those who are disadvantaged or marginalised. Using horsemanship, equine assisted learning, rural skills and the outdoors the charity delivers award winning projects and programmes that encourage participants to acquire new coping strategies, life skills and resilience, whilst gaining nationally recognised awards and qualifications. The charity was founded in 2009 to empower and support service personnel and veterans suffering from life-changing injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder and aid them on their road to recovery. In 2016, HorseBack UK widened its objectives to enable it to serve the wider community utilising many of the same methodologies and principles used for the military community and is now also working with emergency service people dealing with PTSD and disengaged young people to provide well-being support, training, qualifications and confidence. We are honoured that Her Majesty The Queen Consort has become our inaugural Charity Patron. HorseBack UK is a well-respected and accredited organisation and is: • a member of COBSEO (the Confederation of Service Charities) • a founder member and lead of the Human Equine Interaction Register (HEIR) • an accredited Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) centre • accredited to offer course participants the opportunity to gain a John Muir Award • a British Horse Society (BHS) accredited centre • an Aberdeenshire Council Riding Establishment Licence Holder and registered Outdoor Activities Provider Our two main programmes are: Military Recovery Project The Military Recovery Project is our flagship project through which we work with service personnel and veterans suffering from life-changing injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder to empower and support them, aiding them on their road to recovery. The annual programme, which we have adapted, with additional on-line activity and an added qualification, to reflect new needs resulting from COVID-19, is often over-subscribed. Transitioning from the military is difficult for everyone but especially for injured service personnel and veterans for whom social isolation is a huge problem. They are used to being part of dynamic and cohesive teams, not being alone. They can also lose their sense of identity and community that life in the armed services provide. Through the Military Recovery Project, we aim to reduce social isolation and increase a sense of community, self-worth and dignity amongst injured veterans and service personnel. Each year we aim to provide a six-month programme which includes 3, week-long residential courses at our centre in Aboyne, for up to 50 service personnel and veterans suffering from life-changing injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. The programme includes equine assisted learning, horsemanship and outdoor skills training and they can obtain a John Muir Award as well as two SQA qualifications (SQA Level 4 Personal Development Through Horsemanship and SQA Level 4 Mental Health and Wellbeing). We provide on-line training and support between the on-site courses, sign post other support and opportunities, and ensure that the majority of mentors and staff have a military background. HorseBack UK are members of COBSEO and receives referrals from all major military charities as well as the Military’s Personnel Recovery Officers. The impact of the project will be increased confidence, self-esteem, personal leadership, employability and qualifications, as well as reduced social isolation, for those taking part in the programme. In the past, from similar programmes we have run, 94% of participants have stated life improvements including better sleeping, lifestyle, relationships, reduced medication and volunteering. 31% of participants have gone on to full or part-time employment. 11% of participants have gone on to education. Youth Development Programme Each year we run two courses for a two of 24 young people. Each of the 12-week courses consist of a residential team building activities week, 2 weeks work placement, 2 weeks working as a team on a community project and 7 weeks on site. Each participant will have the unique opportunity to gain the following qualifications: ● Prince’s Trust Team Award ● SQA Level 4 Personal Development Through Horsemanship ● SQA Level 4 Mental Health and Wellbeing ● John Muir Award Discovery Level