19/11/2025
We’re thrilled to share the impact of our £138,600 grant to Young Gloucestershire!
In the second year of delivery, the Animal-Assisted Youth Work Programme has supported 68 young people, helping them build confidence, manage anxiety, and even gain a Level 1 Pet Care qualification.
The charity shared the following with us:
“A young person, M, 16 years old, was referred to our programme after experiencing ongoing low mood, low confidence, and high levels of anxiety. She also spoke about struggling with self-esteem and self-care.
The first couple of sessions focused on spending time with Maisie the dog in a calm and relaxed environment. M responded positively to Maisie’s playful and gentle nature, and she soon began joining in with teaching Maisie tricks. Through this activity, M started to relax and smile more, which led to more open conversation.
In the final session, M shared that she felt ready to explore counselling. The youth worker completed an internal referral to YG’s counselling programme, which is something M had previously felt too anxious to access. She said the animal-assisted programme helped her feel more confident talking to professionals and that she now felt ready to continue working on herself with the right support around her."
Together, we’re making a difference 💚
