Sirona provides equine, animal and nature-based therapeutic and educational activities within a relational and person and animal-centred approach to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in order to improve their mental health and well-being and guide them towards more positive life outcomes. Many of the young people who attend Sirona have experienced severe trauma in their lives and are in foster care or adoption, others have referrals of ADHD, Autism Spectrum or struggle in a traditional school environment.
Recent figures show that the number of young people under 18 years referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has risen by 53% since 2019. In Devon there are nearly 1,500 young people on the waiting list for CAMHS with a mean average waiting time around 19 weeks and the longest waiting time 80 weeks.
The grant from The Pixel Trust will help support our specialist 1-1 equine and animal-assisted sessions to vulnerable young people over the next 12 months.
Hello! You and Autumn (pony) helped me earlier this year when I was going through a tough time. Just wanted to update you and say I'm so much better now. I finished college with a qualification in horse care and have a full time job now at a farm!
