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01
Jul
Animal therapy initiative opens in Harrogate for adults with special educational needs
A new provision for adults with special educational needs has opened in Harrogate.
The Learning Sanctuary, which is based on Knaresborough Road, uses “hands on” activities with animals to give volunteers work experience.
Jenny Mills and her husband Andrew Mullane, who have been specialist teachers for 20 years, set up the provision in May.
Ms Mills told the Stray Ferret they aim to give adults with SEND experience through activities such as dog walking and animal therapy sessions.
She said:
Our aim is to provide an inclusive environment for our service users — we call them volunteers — to explore their passion for animals and nature.
Ms Mills added that the centre has snakes, axolotls, guinea pigs and turtles which volunteers help to care for.
She said:
Our aim is to give the animals the best life that they deserve, and our volunteers participate fully in all aspects of their care and wellbeing.
We have snakes, axolotls, guinea pigs, turtles, chinchillas, tortoises, geckos, ferrets and more.
Our volunteers also lead animal therapy sessions with local schools and care homes, giving them the opportunity to share their skills and develop their confidence, whilst sharing the comfort and joy our beautiful animals bring to others.
The Learning Sanctuary is open 50 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday 9.30am until 2.30pm.
Places on the provision can be funded via adult social care packages and by direct payments
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