Equine Minds CIC logoEquine MindsCommunity Interest Company

Our long term home

Where our community comes together.

We have submitted a formal proposal for a suitable site for our long term home. One place for young people with additional support needs, their families and the wider community.

See our visionSupport the planHave your say
A smiling girl looking up as a calm bay pony lowers its head to meet her, its eyes closed

Where

Area South Lanarkshire

Next step Securing the site

  • One home
  • ASN play and activity space
  • Outdoor learning
  • Learning with animals
  • Community garden
  • Farmhouse Kitchen
  • Short break accommodation

Recognised & Accredited

  • UK Rural Skills Approved Provider
  • ACCPH, Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists and Hypnotherapists
  • KBIS British Equestrian Insurance
  • BETA, British Equestrian Trade Association
  • British Grooms Association

There is more than one way to learn and grow.

The plan

Our vision for the hub

Accessible for the full community.

Design concept of a bright sensory play room with a cosy den, soft-play steps and a tunnel, a tactile sensory wall and a low table with blue and yellow chairs

ASN play and activity space

An engaging and flexible space for play and time together, for children and young people with additional support needs and their families.Bookable for school, community, family and event use.

Design concept of a covered timber outdoor classroom where pupils pour water at a play table, cross stepping logs and work at tables, with raised beds and step-free paths for a pupil in a wheelchair

Outdoor learning

A covered outdoor classroom where schools and groups can bring the curriculum to life, from science and nature to practical rural skills. Teacher-led or supported by our team, with indoor alternatives whatever the weather.Bookable for schools and community groups.

A girl grooming a black and white cob while a staff member holds its lead rope outside the stablesPupils with clipboards observing three alpacas in a paddock, supported by staff

Learning with animals

Calm, hands-on sessions with our horses and other animals, helping children and young people build confidence, communication and practical skills. Regular free sessions for local schools give pupils ongoing support and time to develop at their own pace.Bookable for individuals, families and schools.

A staff member helping a young man and a young woman in a wheelchair build a wooden bird box beside trays of seedlingsA staff member helping two pupils pot seedlings at a wooden bench beside raised beds

Community garden

A shared growing space where local people, groups and organisations can garden together, build friendships and feel more connected to their community, helping to reduce loneliness.Open to local people, groups and organisations.

Design concept of a farmhouse kitchen with long rustic tables and benches, plaid cushions and blankets, and a jacket potato, soup, a sandwich and a pot of tea on the table

Farmhouse Kitchen

A welcoming farmhouse kitchen serving home-cooked food, baking and light bites, using produce from our community garden. A place to meet, relax and feel part of the community, with real work experience for young people.Quieter times available for families who prefer a calmer visit.

Design concept of an accessible farmhouse-style bedroom with a double bed, ceiling hoist, grab rails and a wheelchair, a wet room with a fold-down shower seat, and a sensory den with a bubble tube and soft lighting

Short break accommodation

Accessible, sensory-friendly rooms where families and carers can rest, recharge and enjoy time together. Designed with disabled access, calm spaces and comfortable hotel-style touches, so everyone can relax. Enjoy the animals, garden and Farmhouse Kitchen during your stay, with countryside walks and days out across South Lanarkshire to explore.Short breaks for families, carers and visitors to the hub.

All images of the hub, its spaces and sessions are illustrative design concepts. Final layouts will follow access and building assessments and the permissions each use requires.

Who it is for

A place where everyone can belong and grow

  • Children and young peopleEspecially those with additional support needs. A calm, welcoming place to learn, grow in confidence and discover what they can do.
  • Parents, carers and familiesSupport, time together and a friendly community around you, with short breaks and activities that fit your routines.
  • Schools and educatorsHands-on outdoor and animal-based learning that brings the curriculum to life and helps every pupil engage.
  • Our whole communitySomewhere to meet, volunteer, learn new skills and feel connected, whatever your age or ability.
  • Community Interest Company
  • SC876746
  • Profits reinvested
  • No diagnosis needed
  • All abilities welcome

How it is funded

Built to sustain itself

Our plan is for the hub to pay its own way. Visitor services cover the running costs and protect a programme for the community.

Earned income

Visitor and paid services

  • Short break accommodation
  • Farmhouse Kitchen
  • Paid sessions and experiences
  • Space hire
Covers

Running the hub

  • Buildings and grounds
  • Animal care
  • Paid staff
Protects

A community programme

  • Sessions for local schools
  • Accessible family activities
  • Training and work experience

Have your say

Would you back it?

Four quick questions, about a minute. Your answers show decision makers that this hub is needed, and help us shape what goes in it.

Have your sayNo name needed.

What we will ask

  1. Would you support the hub?
  2. Which parts would you use?
  3. Is there anything like it near you?
  4. A little about you, with no name

Support the plan

Help us build it

If you are a school or local organisation and would like to hear more, we would love to hear from you.

Stacy Harris-Wann

Stacy Harris-WannFounder, Equine Minds CIC

How would you like to be involved?

Choose one to open an email to us with the subject filled in.

Email usor write to hello@equine-minds.org