ANNUAL REVIEW 2022 13
TOGETHER WE INSPIRE
The power
of caring
When things get tough for a young
person, they might find it hard to
know where to turn or how to break
the hold of negative thoughts.
But we're showing that caring for
animals can be a powerful tool
in supporting young people's
mental health.
In our Annual review for 2021, we
reported on the incredible outcomes
for those who took a new six-week
course at our Newbrook Farm
Education Centre in Birmingham.
The aim was to rebuild their
confidence after the pandemic
through activities with and for
animals. Since then, many more
young people up to the age of
25 have taken advantage of the
course, which helps improve their wellbeing, teamwork
skills, motivation and decision-making.
But it doesn't stop there. They can go on to monitor
others, and even gain accredited qualifications in areas
such as animal welfare, pet welfare and creating a
garden ecosystem.
"Everyone is on a different journey," says Community
Engagement Manager Robert Moffat (pictured above).
"Some will have missed out on some of their education
or not interacted much with anyone outside their
homes for a while. But they soon band together and
start making their own pathways to a future they might
never have envisaged. In the process, they become true
advocates for animals."
The course is proving such a success that Robert's team,
which devised and delivers it in partnership with
Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, won an Innovation
in Mental Health Award at the Royal College of Nursing's
Nursing Awards 2022. The course is part-funded by the
National Lottery for three years.
Three steps to prevention
The RSPCA has always been about preventing cruelty from happening - that's what
the 'P' in our name stands for. We have a three-pronged approach.
Inspiring and
engaging everyone to
take small steps that
make a big difference
to animals.
Giving early help
and support in
communities to
prevent cruelty
and neglect.
Where cruelty
has happened,
intervening to
stop it from
happening again.