Affordable Young Persons Therapy at KEFL

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Funding Report: Affordable Young Persons Therapy at KEFL

1. Project Overview

The Affordable Young Persons Therapy at KEFL project was created to address a clear gap in accessible mental‑health support for marginalised young people. KEFL CIC already provides equine learning and therapy sessions that help young people build trust, resilience, and emotional regulation through relationships with horses. However, many participants require deeper therapeutic support that only a qualified counsellor can provide.

The funding received through Spacehive enabled KEFL CIC to integrate a permanent, affordable young persons’ counsellor into our existing equine therapy programme. This combined approach ensures that young people can explore trauma, process difficult experiences, and receive consistent emotional support in a safe, nature‑based environment.

2. Early Delivery and Use of Reserves

We began delivering the project before receiving the Spacehive funding. Once we had secured our young persons’ counsellor, we made the decision to start the service early using a small portion of our organisational reserves. This ensured that young people did not experience delays in accessing much‑needed therapeutic support.

Starting early allowed us to:

• Establish the integrated counselling and equine learning model

• Build therapeutic relationships from the outset

• Ensure a smooth transition once external funding was confirmed

This proactive approach reflects KEFL CIC’s commitment to meeting the needs of marginalised young people quickly and responsibly, while maintaining strong financial oversight.

3. What We Set Out to Achieve

Our aim was to remove financial barriers and create a seamless therapeutic pathway by:

• Offering affordable counselling sessions at £30 per hour (reduced from the standard £190 per hour combined cost).

• Embedding a permanent counsellor within the equine therapy setting to ensure continuity and trust.

• Providing clothing and equipment so young people can safely access our outdoor environment in all weathers.

• Creating a stable place of belonging where young people feel safe, supported, and connected.

• Integrating Therapeutic Counselling with Equine Learning to support emotional, psychological, and social development.

4. Project Delivery

With the support of Spacehive backers, KEFL CIC delivered:

Affordable Therapeutic Sessions

• Subsidised counselling sessions for young people who would otherwise be unable to access support.

• A combined equine‑therapy‑plus‑counselling model that is financially accessible and clinically effective.

Specialist Equipment & Clothing

• Weather‑appropriate clothing and equipment to ensure all young people can participate safely and comfortably in our outdoor setting.

Integrated Therapeutic Support

• A counsellor working alongside equine therapists, enabling early identification of trauma indicators and timely intervention.

• A consistent therapeutic relationship that supports young people as deeper issues emerge.

A Safe, Stable Environment

• A permanent, welcoming space where young people can build trust, develop resilience, and feel a sense of belonging.

5. Impact & Benefits

Enhanced Emotional Support

Young people received focused, consistent therapeutic support from a qualified counsellor, helping them navigate complex emotions and personal challenges.

Holistic Development

The integration of counselling with equine learning addressed both emotional and psychological needs, promoting:

• Improved self‑esteem

• Greater resilience

• Stronger coping strategies

• Increased emotional regulation

Increased Accessibility

By reducing the cost of sessions, the project removed a major barrier to mental‑health support for marginalised young people.

Long‑Term Outcomes

Early indicators show:

• Better engagement in education and social settings

• Improved confidence and communication

• Reduced anxiety and emotional distress

• Stronger relationships with peers and trusted adults

Trust & Continuity

The presence of a permanent counsellor ensured that young people did not have to retell their stories or rebuild trust repeatedly — a critical factor in trauma‑informed practice.

6. Volunteering, Jobs & Education

Our project strengthens pathways into education, employment, and volunteering by supporting young people to build the confidence, stability, and skills they need to move forward positively.

Through our equine learning and therapeutic counselling services, young people are supported in attending school regularly and maintaining engagement with their education. Many of the marginalised and vulnerable young people we work with become more self‑aware and resilient, developing a stronger sense of worth and belief in their future.

As their emotional wellbeing improves, young people feel more capable of exploring further education, training opportunities, and future employment. By addressing the barriers that often prevent them from progressing — such as anxiety, trauma, or low confidence — this project helps young people take meaningful steps towards long‑term goals.

The project also contributes directly to local volunteering and skills development. KEFL CIC welcomes volunteers from a variety of routes into our provision, including structured placements for Mid Kent College Animal Care students. These placements offer hands‑on experience in animal care, land‑based work, and supporting young people in a therapeutic environment. All volunteers are interviewed, assessed, and DBS‑checked, ensuring a safe, supportive setting where they can develop practical skills, gain confidence, and build experience that strengthens their future employment prospects.

7. Community Value

This project contributes to a healthier, more resilient community by:

• Supporting young people before crises escalate

• Reducing pressure on statutory mental‑health services

• Providing a nature‑based, non‑clinical alternative that many young people find more accessible

• Strengthening protective factors such as belonging, connection, and self‑belief

8. Conclusion

The funding received through Spacehive has enabled KEFL CIC to deliver a transformative, accessible therapeutic service for young people who need it most. By integrating counselling with equine learning, we have created a holistic, trauma‑informed model that supports emotional wellbeing, builds resilience, and offers young people a safe place to grow.

This project has laid the foundation for long‑term, sustainable support for marginalised young people in our community, and we are deeply grateful to all backers who made it possible.