Wellbeing In Leicester is an important issue that the city does much to tackle for all of its residents. Leicester is a multicultural city, part of the East Midlands and home to many nationalities and faith groups. Health & wellbeing is an issue that we all can overlook; especially when it comes to young people. Today it is reported that 10% of children aged 5-16 years old have a clinically diagnosable mental health issue. This data was referenced from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-children-and-young-people

There are many schemes to help improve wellbeing in not just Leicester but nationally. Wellness can often take a back seat in today's society. If you factor in isolation, stigma (especially when it comes to mental health), inadequate training, lack of information and grass root initiatives to help from a local community level - many people continue to suffer unnecessarily. Many people live with chronic stress, and this can severely impact their health and wellbeing.

The Urban Equestrian Academy doesn't have all the answers. But it does have a clear pathway through equestrianism and utilising equine assisted therapy/learning to help tackle wellness issues with our young people and also adults. Horses are very therapeutic, honest and responsive to human interaction. Caring for animals is a powerful experience where people of all ages can benefit. Our equine programmes and services in Leicester help to connect different communities. The more we come together as a collective the more we can talk and share. Highlighting issues and working together to tackles issues in Leicester concerning wellbeing has to be the starting point. Equestrianism can help children's emotional wellbeing in our city. We can connect with nature, the countryside and work together as a team. We provide access to the equestrian world for children who have not had that opportunity before. Life is self-discovery, and for our young people, it can be a challenging journey. What we have learned thus far with our work is that the local community has played a crucial role in enhancing the wellbeing of especially children in Leicester, by supporting our organisation.

Equine-assisted therapy is a valuable tool for wellness we believe should be more utilised in the city and throughout Leicestershire. Our goal is to build an equestrian centre in the city, so everybody has access to horse riding, horse care and equestrian sports. Interaction with horses and equines can improve our wellbeing. Specialist activities with these beautiful creatures can help both our mental and physical health. It can also help combat behavioural and psychological issues that many people (including children) in Leicester face. Equine-assisted therapy is not the sole solution to improving our overall wellbeing, but it can be a productive part of the whole process.

Life has its challenges, and there are times we can all experience the emotional pressures resulting from them. Chronic stress is when we encounter these pressures for a lengthy, continuous period. This can affect our mind as well as body. The negative impacts on each can be severe and may result in serious health problems. Our young people in Leicester have to navigate through life, just like adults. Often the stress they experience can be downplayed because of their age. Prevention is always better than cure. We have an opportunity as a city to tackle this nationwide problem. Many organisations who want to see improvement of wellbeing in Leicester often work in isolation. This is no fault of their own. Maybe it is time to come together so we can put a structure in place that is effective for individuals and communities. So much great work is being done in the city, but there is room for even more much more, especially collectively.

If you would like to find out more information about our equestrian programmes and services in Leicester, then please call The Urban Equestrian Academy on 0116 204 2792 or e-mail us at info@urbanequestrian.co.uk.