Martin Clunes and BHS lead the way to support youngsters

BHS joins forces with youth charity Lead-Up to help young people develop key life skills

Actor and president of the British Horse Society (BHS) Martin Clunes headed to the Royal Armoured Corps Saddle Club in Bovington, Dorset, to mark an exciting partnership between the BHS and Lead-Up International, a charitable organisation that focuses on using education and emotional management to teach young people how to deal with violence.

Complementing the BHS’s Changing Lives through Horses (CLtH) programme, which aims to reconnect young people to communities through the magic of horses, Lead-Up ran an insightful workshop with CLtH participants. Supported by mentors, the participants were encouraged to observe and manage their own non-verbal communication through mindfulness, interaction with horses and learning to build trust between horses and humans.

Martin said: “I couldn’t be happier about supporting this new collaboration between the BHS and Lead-Up International. A horse’s beauty, bravery, strength and companionship constantly inspire me, and it is great to see our Changing Lives through Horses participants benefit from the unique horse/human bond. This partnership marks an important step forward in inspiring the next generation of equestrians.”

This event coincided with the launch of a new BHS campaign, Keep Britain Riding, to safeguard the long-term prospects of equestrianism and nurture the special horse/human bond in future generations.

Head of Changing Lives through Horses at the BHS Alison Blackmore said: “The Changing Lives Through Horses programme is about the vital importance of relationships and creating a sense of belonging for children and young people who, for whatever reason, find emotional connections difficult in educational and social environments.

“Through this programme, I’ve been fortunate enough to see hundreds of people’s lives change through the power of horses. Engaging with horses can be a real breakthrough for young people, bringing out their confidence and helping them to develop key life skills.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit bhs.org.uk/clth