What is CLTH?
The Vision - To inspire individuals, particularly those classified as disengaged and/or disadvantaged to learn and reconnect with society through horses.
The Mission - To empower and build the resilience, self-esteem and confidence of young people, regardless of their background, with the opportunity to be supported to develop their skills and knowledge enabling them to return or better engage with education and/or employment.
The Ethos:
1. CLTH is a programme of regular sessions. The cycle of planning, observation, collaboration, adaptation, and reviewing links each session.
2. CLTH takes place within a BHS Approved Riding Centre (Larkrigg Riding School). This link to nature, horses and the outdoors in a safe environment supports the development of a lifelong relationship between the young person and the natural world.
3. CLTH uses a range of awards and achievements to create a community for development, learning and collaboration.
4. CLTH aims to provide the holistic development of all involved, nurturing six key life skills for all young people which will be tracked throughout their sessions.
The six key life skills are:
- Building Relationships.
- Communication.
- Confidence.
- Responsibility.
- Teamwork.
- Perseverance.
5. CLTH offers young people the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
Each CLTH certification programme is linked to the national curriculum through specifically designed activities completed in each session. The activities can be adjusted and personalised according to the needs and abilities of the individual students.
Michelle’s journey.
Michelle* first attended the Changing Lives Through Horses (CLTH) programme in June with Miss Phillips, not long after coming to Wings School Cumbria. Michelle was confident both on and around the horses and embraced all aspects of the course. In those few short months leading to the summer holidays Michelle achieved 4 of the British Horse Society (BHS) Achieve Awards for horse and stable management and 4 Rider Achieve Awards for her riding. Michelle was presented with these in our annual end of year Prizegiving ceremony in July.
Michelle is in her element around all animals she encounters and has both natural ability and empathy. M has attended all the sessions offered to her during the school week and we hope that next year she will be able to also regularly attend ‘Pony Club’ on the Saturdays when she stays at Wings for the weekend.
As Michelle is in year 8 it is a little early for her to be choosing a career! If Michelle did wish to pursue an academic path with horses, we could arrange work experience on one of our local yards or Riding school in years 10 and 11. We also have links to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre and are within travelling distance of Myerscough College, renowned for its Equine Centre, courses and facilities.