That the Parliament congratulates Ponies Help Children on celebrating its 10th anniversary; recognises what it sees as the vital and compassionate work carried out by this charity in rescuing ponies and horses, providing them with care, rehabilitation and loving new homes; believes that these rescued animals have a powerful and positive impact on children and young people across Lanarkshire, including Motherwell and Wishaw, who might face a range of personal, emotional and social barriers; considers that, through equine-assisted activities and therapy, Ponies Help Children supports the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable young people by fostering confidence, resilience and mindfulness; commends the charity’s innovative and inclusive approach in creating safe and nurturing environments in which children can develop meaningful connections with the ponies, which in turn can help promote emotional healing and personal growth; appreciates the dedication and hard work of all staff, volunteers and supporters who have contributed to the charity’s success over the past decade, and encourages continued recognition and support for Ponies Help Children, and similar organisations that use animal-assisted interventions to enrich the lives of young people and strengthen communities.
Supported by:
Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Stephanie Callaghan, Foysol Choudhury, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Emma Harper, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White