Community Interest Company, Equus Ferus, is today celebrating after being awarded £20k in National Lottery funding to support its work with people who have problems with addiction. The group, based in West Wales, will use the money to pilot a project which aims to help people develop resilience to change their behavior and lead a healthier happy life.
Equus Ferus, founded in July 2015, delivers a variety of projects, its personnel have driven the company’s growth and adaptation. At its core, Equus Ferus remains steadfast in its mission to provide Equine Facilitated Learning for Human Development (EFHD) and to promote natural horsemanship.
Four resolute directors currently spearhead the company: Jackie Turner, Chris Paling, Dawn Oakley-Smith, and Sheila Bowden. Each director brings a wealth of experience in psychotherapy, addiction counselling, equine management, and a deep personal understanding of the therapeutic benefits of collaborating with horses. Their combined expertise is a cornerstone in propelling Equus Ferus towards new heights.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will help to raise the profile of EFHD and the evidence base. The funding allows a spotlight to shine on the positive benefits to a broader audience.
Chris Paling one of Equus Ferus Directors and Practitioners says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to bring the benefits of EFHD to our community, particularly for individuals who find traditional ‘talk’ therapies and other conventional interventions less effective. The use of horses in therapeutic settings for addiction is not only innovative but also continues to develop as a significant method for enhancing emotional wellness and life skills. This is important because the body of research supporting the positive effects of equine-facilitated therapies is growing and we will be able to add to it.
Steve says: “I attended a previous Equus Ferus program about recovery and learned so much, I was skeptical at first but once I started working with the horses, I felt amazing. I made changes that I had never thought I would ever make. I have not had a drink in over a year now.”
The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030.
As part of this, the funder has four key missions, which are to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year (2023/24) The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£686.3 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700 projects to turn their great ideas into reality.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
