​We are very aware that there are many children in Devon with mental health issues. As a grant making organisation it has given us great pleasure to be able to help out with those organisations who have applied for funding to help the children in question. Our latest funded projects were:
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• DYS Space Limited (Space Youth Services) - to set up weekly youth club sessions in Tiverton for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
• We had our first request from North Devon with Lampard School Barnstaple a vibrant over-subscribed special school wanting help with Phase 3 funding to develop an enclosed outdoor learning space for children.
• Ernesettle Community School Plymouth whom we have supported previously asked for funding towards exercise equipment to help encourage their children in exploratory, physical, social and imaginative play outdoors.
• On the Hill, Lower Ashton is another project previously supported.  We have given them a further grant for their TRIBE residential programme for less academically able children from St Peter’s School Exeter.  In this case youngsters from Years 7-10 live in tents, learning to cook and cope as well as doing some conventional education.
• A new grantee for us is Julian House, Exeter a charity that supports vulnerable and at risk individuals, requesting funding for a project to provide 12 trainer tenancies directed at homeless young people in Exeter.
• We have also given a grant to Esteem Team Exmouth who offer free successful services such as education packages, enabling, mentoring, life skills, cooking and coaching sessions etc towards their work with children with mental health issues.
• The RAMM Development Trust Exeter were given a grant for their project Frame of Mind which will explore how guided therapeutic interaction with museum objects could help reduce some of the stress experienced by young people post the Covid 19 pandemic. 
• The Tree Project, Plymouth were awarded a grant towards providing wellbeing sessions for 6 care experienced children.
• The Mare and Foal Sanctuary Newton Abbot had funding towards helping 12 young people taking part in an equine assisted learning programme. 
• Live Music Now previously supported, want to work with young people at Combe Pafford School Torbay through professional musicians working closely with Thrive staff to integrate music into the existing Thrive programme at the school.
• bibic Changing Lives Although bibic are based in Somerset, we have helped fund a three year project which aims to help 69 children with learning disabilities and developmental difficulties. These children come from schools in Exeter, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple and Plymouth.

Providing Play Therapy support through First Light South West in Plymouth, to children and young people with learning difficulties who have been victims of sexual violence. This project run over three years will help 90 children rebuild their lives.
 
In Exeter we have given funding to two organisations, The Northcott Theatre for a project working with 20 children from Whipton Barton Primary school who are defined as in Need or at risk or becoming so. Double Elephant Print Workshop in partnership with East Devon AONB towards their project helping children with disabilities develop new creative skills through nature.
 
In Ashprington, we have given funding to The Sharpham Trust in partnership with King Edward VI Community College Totnes towards developing a Mindful in Nature project. The aim is to help 36 young people over the course of a year from key stage 3, 4 and 5.  Many of the young people have been experiencing mental health concerns.
 
Funding has been granted to Tiverton based BOUNCE! Brighter Futures Foundation towards child therapists working with creative arts helping circa 250 children directly and 600 indirectly with mental health issues.
 
Enabling Ivybridge based Moorvision who support visually impaired children and young people, to take a group of these children on an adventure activity weekend at Skern Lodge in Appledore.
 
Shebbear School Support Group, Beaworthy to develop an outside area to provide physical and sensory stimulation for 30  children aged 4 – 6 who have lost out on many days of schooling during the pandemic.

Amongst the most recent grants were funding to provide weekly extra-curricular sessions for children with special needs at the Marine Academy in Plymouth and towards providing music therapy for 500 children at Ernesettle Primary School, also in the city. Okehampton Community Dance Project have been given funding for dance sessions for 84 children to help with mental and physical wellbeing.

WESC Foundation has recently opened a new adapted kitchen for students with vision impairment and complex needs, thanks to a generous donation from the Northbrook Community Trust.

The grant has meant that young people at the Exeter charity are now able to access height adjustable worktops, cooker-tops and kitchen sinks in their shared accommodation. The new facilities mean that more of the young residents – who all attend the charity’s specialist College – can now develop essential independent living skills that will stand them in good stead for later life. It’s also a practical space used for socialising and preparing and eating food in a busy home from home.

Visit their website for a full report...

Sirona is offering several new courses this year for people interested in finding out more about equine-assisted learning and therapy at Sirona. These include ‘Mindfulness and Horses’ which incorporates some of the mindfulness techniques they use at Sirona as well as a week long ‘Equidramatherapy’ summer course where art and drama activities are included alongside learning with the horses and proved highly popular with young people last year.
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Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship hold open days from time to time where members of the horse and human team will be on hand to meet the public and answer any questions. For more information please visit their website.
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