A CHARITY SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE

Tralee UBU project in partnership with Tralee Equestrian Centre, have developed an Equine Therapy programme which has taken place since September 2021.  The program is primarily for young male members of the travelling community, aged 10-14.  Equine therapy includes a range of treatments that incorporate activities with horses to promote physical, social, and emotional health.

This 12 week programme was planned and designed to meet the needs of the young people participating. Young people were consulted and had input on the content of the programme to ensure the programme being delivered to them met the specific needs of the group. It is the overall aim that this program will evolve and develop further to meet the needs of young people in the community and it would continue to be delivered on an ongoing basis.

UBU staff members, Jake Kelly and Grace Boyle developed this initiative which focused on the needs being presented by the group members. The love and passion for horses held by the group members was apparent throughout the programme.

The expected outcomes of this initiative is that the young people will gain insight into their emotions and behaviour and develop a non-threatening more productive and positive way of interacting.  As the young people continue to communicate and work in harmony with the horses, the project workers expect that the young people will develop an increased sense of self-esteem improving their overall personal, social, and emotional health and wellbeing, as they progress through their teenage years and into adulthood.

 

UBU Your Place Your Space funded by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth and administered by Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB) UBU programmes provide out of school supports to young people. These supports offer a wide range of quality activities, which are mainly community-based, that enable young people to overcome adverse circumstances and achieve their full potential by improving their personal and social developmental outcomes.