Fund: Community Fund
Who
Horses Helping People is a therapeutic horsemanship centre and care farm providing equine and rural activities for disadvantaged adults and young people within Buckinghamshire.
What
When the charity re-opened after the pandemic, participants reported anxiety, isolation and limited access to local support, particularly for young autistic adults. Many also live with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, neurodivergence or caring responsibilities.
In response, Horses Helping People developed The Friday Club, a free weekly club providing a welcoming safe environment where adults and young people can build connections, improve wellbeing and enjoy the benefits of spending time in nature. The Club has been running successfully with continued demand and positive feedback since 2022.
“I love being outside in nature and watch the calmness of the horses and birds whilst doing the gardening and things for the horses. I love the sounds of the birds and insects. The conversations with the staff have helped my mental health enormously and been a big support.” Autistic participant
In year one of their recent grant Horses Helping People delivered 24 Friday Club sessions for 20 participants, with an average weekly attendance of 10 people. Activities on the farm included horse care, gardening, conservation work and wildlife observation, alongside opportunities to simply relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Impact
The project’s flexible approach allows participants to engage in ways that suit their needs, helping people build confidence, develop friendships and feel part of a supportive community.
One participant has become a strong advocate for inclusion, actively welcoming new non-speaking participants into the group.
Alongside the benefits for participants, Horse Helping People has identified a significant impact on family carers and support workers. As access to wider support services has become more challenging, carers have increasingly used The Friday Club as a place for informal peer support. While participants engage in activities, carers have the opportunity to talk, share experiences and connect with others who understand the realities of caring responsibilities.
“Learning from the experience and wisdom of other carers in similar situations is inspirational. Just being at the farm is calming, and the expanse of space helps to clear my head.” Carer of adult son.
Learning and Next Steps
A key learning from the project has been that meaningful participation does not always involve ‘doing’. The organisation deliberately offers participants the option to simply sit, observe or enjoy the surroundings without taking part in structured activities. Staff have become increasingly aware of the importance of protecting this choice and ensuring participants do not feel pressured to be productive.
One parent reflected on her non-speaking son’s description of the farm as his “place of peace”. This helped her understand the value of allowing him time to simply be present and enjoy the environment on his own terms.
The success of The Friday Club extends beyond those who attend the sessions. Horses Helping People actively shares learning, best practice and training with other organisations. The organisation has also inspired at least two other centres to establish comparable groups within their own communities.
In 2025 Horse Helping People were awarded a Green Fund grant to undertake an environmental audit and create a long-term management plan for the farm’s natural assets. The project focuses on protecting and enhancing woodland, meadows, ponds, hedgerows, soil health and other habitats while creating practical and educational opportunities for participants and the wider community.
This reflects the organisation’s commitment to both people and place, strengthening environmental sustainability while maintaining the wellbeing benefits that nature-based activities provide.
“One of the greatest privileges of living at Sunrise Farm is having a safe space to be in nature. For many of our participants, anxiety, sensory overwhelm or previous trauma mean that public green spaces do not feel safe, so they can never truly relax and experience the full benefit of being in the natural world. It’s a joy to share Sunrise with these gentle people, and see them feel safe enough to be themselves.”
Debbie La-Haye
