Small Strides CIC was established in 2014 to provide therapeutic horsemanship for people from a range of disadvantaged backgrounds and all levels of ability. We specialise in working with children with ASD and additional needs.
Our service is unique in the Bristol area and through being established for over 4 years we have demonstrated a need for this type of alternative therapeutic service. We provide a safe place where vulnerable people, primarily children, from a range of disadvantaged backgrounds can come and interact in a natural environment with nature and horses, while improving mental, emotional and physical well-being along with learning other valuable practical and life skills. We provide horse based social skills courses for children who are socially isolated and struggling as well as offering volunteer and work experience placements to people in the local community.
The centre is run voluntary by Jenny MacSharry who is devoted to making positive changes and opportunities in the lives of those struggling to cope, along with a small team of dedicated volunteers.
Our aims for the future are to continue to provide our therapeutic services but branch out and work with more schools in the local area and help those children who are experiencing difficulties or are at risk of exclusion. We would also like to continue to run our social skills courses as they have had such a positive impact in the children's lives, but we would also like to be able to offer these to adults experiencing social exclusion.
We are hoping to raise £1500 so we can better the facilities.
We would like to use the money raised primary to complete our classroom, so we have a warm safe learning environment for the children to work in as well improve the yard and car park area by improving the groundwork.
If there are any funds remaining we would like to purchase new equipment for running sessions.