Standing out in the mud, exposed to the elements may not sound like fun – but it was for the young people at Neigh Bother! Being around horses, whilst learning practical horse care skills, achieving their skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and not to mention being able to meet other like minded young people, is enough to make the biting wind and pouring rain worthwhile!
Neigh Bother is a collaboration between CAMHS and FOTA (Friends of the Award) with Karele Equine facilitated activities. It gives autistic young people the chance to learn a skill, develop interests, and meet other people in a small, supported group environment.
One group member described the day as “very therapeutic” and a family member said it was the first in a long time that her daughter had successfully managed being in a group setting.
Over the last 10 years, CAMHS Occupational Therapy Team and FOTA have developed a unique project to support young people attending CAMHS in Edinburgh to achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Award. Additional Big Lottery funding has meant young people across all of Lothian can now also benefit from the support of the CAMHS FOTA Development Officer.
Course organisers hope that Neigh Bother will be the first of many joint initiatives in East Lothian … and no, they’re not horsing about!
This project was possible thanks to the funding from the Edinburgh and Lothian Health Foundation (ELHF) and FOTA.
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