Connecting through Animal Care
At Cambridge Acorn Project, we take the time to understand the whole picture of a young person's life. Sometimes, that wider perspective helps us spot opportunities that might otherwise be missed.
Recently, three CAP practitioners were supporting three different young people of the same age. Each young person was being educated at home due to a combination of educational and interpersonal trauma, and each had experienced challenges accessing the support they needed from school. All three were also incredibly isolated, spending much of their time at home and with very limited opportunities to socialise.
Through our Panoramic Approach, these connections became visible. Although the young people were being supported separately, we recognised that they shared similar interests and aspirations. All three had a passion for animal care and hopes of studying the subject in further education.
By bringing together insights from across our team, we explored whether a group opportunity could help. Thanks to generous funding from the Ann Docwra Fund, we were able to create a weekly animal care group led by a qualified tutor.
Today, all three young people attend the group together each week. For one young person, it is the first time they have left home to take part in any form of support for a long period of time.
“It is really beneficial, getting skills that I didn’t have before. I’m talking to people whereas before I would have sat quietly. I’m getting experience I need for the course I am hoping to do later this year at college. I’ve learnt skills that are actually going to help me in real life situations.”
This story is a powerful example of what can happen when support looks beyond individual challenges and focuses on the whole person. By creating opportunities for connection, learning and shared interests, we can help young people rediscover confidence, build new skills and take positive steps towards the future they want for themselves.