Greatwood awarded £4,000 by Co-op Community Fund to help young people in need

At the Co-op store in Pewsey this morning (Friday 22 December), Greatwood, or two of their Shetland Ponies – Gladys and Twinkle – were there to collect the cheque for £4.016.37 from the Co-op Community Fund, as the Co-op members chosen charity.

Greatwood, sited just up Oare Hill between Oare and Clench applied to the Co-op to become one of their local charities. The application was successful and between September ’23 and September ’24 members raised over £4,000 for Greatwood,

The funds will be used by Greatwood to deliver an Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) activity programme in partnership with Youth Adventure Trust. A project which supports young people who are struggling with poor mental health due to a lack of confidence and self-esteem. Those young people maybe struggling at school or at home, being bullied, are the bully, have additional needs, a chaotic home life, or are a young carer. Many reasons, but building resilience, developing confidence, improving psychosocial wellbeing and assisting with post traumatic growth in the wake of the pandemic are key to this project that Greatwood can and will deliver.

Greatwood, a charity that cares for former Racehorses focuses on educating disadvantaged children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI), using the former racehorses in their care. Specialising in supporting those with SEMH (Social Emotional and Mental Health) difficulties.