Hugs, Hearts and Minds Aligned with a grant from the Sedel-Collings Foundation 

The Hugs Foundation is a well-being and animal rescue charity working with children, young people and animals in a way that benefits them both, creating a unique atmosphere of well-being for all. 

The team or people and horses support a huge range of complex needs including; social, emotional, physical and mental ill health, trauma, abuse, reduced or
non-school attendance, SEND, social isolationLoneliness, lack of access to human interactions., bereavement, self-harm and suicide ideation through a range of nature based interventions. 

The “Hooves, Hearts & Minds Aligned” projectA piece of work that delivers an output., supported by a £14,588 grant from the Sedell-Collings Foundation, facilitated the recruitment of a full-time youth facilitator, enabling the delivery of 642 hours of well-being interventions to 109 young people. Each participant engaged in a structured programme of six one-hour sessions, with options for extension based on individual needs.

The activities primarily focused on 1:1 support and used equine-assisted interventions and therapeutic activities. Grooming rescue ponies, for example helps with emotional regulation and provides a calming influence. As one parent reflected, “Hugs sessions created a sense of purpose, grew confidence, and offered optimism for the future.”

The impact extended beyond immediate outcomesMeasuring the results of the work your organisation is doing., with participants reporting reduced anxiety, increased confidence, and enhanced optimism. A parent of a neurodiverse participant noted a significant transformation: their child, previously unable to cope with group activities due to bullying and anxiety, regained confidence and began to engage in social settings, overcoming suicidal ideation.

The project successfully addressed critical mental health needs through innovative therapeutic practices, providing transformative experiences for vulnerable young people and their families. 

One service user’s parent referred due to their young person experiencing challenges with neurodiversity and not coping with mainstream school, resulting in suicide ideation. They were unable to face group activities due to bullying and growing anxiety and had begun home schooling. Hugs sessions worked with the rescue animals to create a sense of purpose, grow confidence and optimism for the future. The parent noted that their young person had grown hugely in confidence, so much so that they chose to take part in a group session, a huge development in creating social inclusion alongside no longer experiencing suicide ideation.

About the Fund

The Sedel-Collings Foundation was set up in 2006 by Rae Sedel and John Collings with a mission to empower and sustain vital community services. Following the death of the founders in 2021 Sedel-Collings Foundation is now run by four volunteer trustees who use their expertise in partnership with Cornwall Community Foundation to oversee careful management of the fundA sum of money made available for grant making, often with specific criteria/conditions. in line with the couple’s wishes.

For more information about The Hugs Foundation visit hugsfoundation.org.uk

If you are a community group looking for funding, please view our available grants.

If you are looking to support the Cornwall Community Foundation with a donation, go to our online donation page.