Helping Hands Occupational Therapy & Hippotherapy

31/08/2026

What a fantastic weekend with our current cohort completing the Clinical Practice in Equine Facilitated Therapy for Allied Health Professionals with Ulster University.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Gary, CEO of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, who came along to meet our students (one of whom is the wonderful Dan!) and see first-hand the incredible role that the equine therapy partner and equine environment can play within therapeutic practice. 🐴

It has been such a privilege to work alongside an incredible group of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech & Language Therapists, all bringing their own clinical knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to the course.

A very special thank you also goes to the wonderful clients and families who generously gave up part of their Bank Holiday weekend to be our models and support the students' clinical learning. We are incredibly grateful for your time, trust and involvement. ❤️

There is something very special about bringing allied health professionals together to explore how we can thoughtfully and clinically incorporate the horse and equine environment into therapy.

👏 Well done to our current cohort: what a brilliant weekend of learning, collaboration and clinical practice!

30/08/2026

🐴 RARE HIPPOTHERAPY SLOT AVAILABLE! 🐴

We have an exciting and rare Hippotherapy weekly slot that has just become available at Bryerley Springs Equestrian Centre, Milton Keynes.

📅 Wednesdays weekly – term time only
⏰ Afternoon slot
🐎 30-minute Hippotherapy session

This is a fantastic opportunity for a child or adult who may benefit from specialist Occupational Therapy incorporating the movement of the horse to support their individual therapeutic goals.

📍 Bryerley Springs Equestrian Centre, Milton Keynes

If you’d like to find out more about Hippotherapy, whether it may be suitable, or to enquire about taking this slot, please get in touch:

📧 [email protected]
📞 07598 029099

Please feel free to share with families who may be interested. 🐴💚

22/08/2026

Exciting News!

In early 2027, Ulster University will be offering a Level 7 / 30-credit Equine-Assisted Therapy module.

This postgraduate module will focus on groundwork and clinical practice, providing participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to integrate equine-assisted approaches into professional practice.

The programme will be delivered through a blended learning format, with part of the content completed online prior to a three-day practical intensive. The practical component will take place at a riding establishment in Northern Ireland, selected for its convenient access to accommodation and the airport.

If you are an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, or Speech and Language Therapist interested in developing your groundwork skills at postgraduate level, we would be delighted to hear from you.

To register your interest, please contact Orla Daly, Ulster University, at the following email address: [email protected]

20/08/2026

All the best to everyone receiving their GCSE results today!

We’re thinking of all the amazing young people opening their results today, and of the families, teachers and support teams who have been alongside them on their journey. 💛

Whatever is written on that piece of paper, your results do not define you.

For many young people, simply reaching this point represents an incredible achievement, overcoming challenges, developing resilience, finding your strengths and continuing to move forward even when things haven’t always been easy.

Be proud of how far you have come.

There are so many different routes to a happy, successful and fulfilling future, and today is just one small part of your journey.

Whatever your results, there is an exciting path ahead of you, even if you don’t quite know what that path looks like yet.

✨ Congratulations on everything you have achieved so far, and good luck with whatever comes next! ✨

From all of us at Helping Hands Occupational Therapy Team 🐴💛

26/07/2026

I love this creative use of switch access!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18coXAToLc/

21/07/2026

This is very exciting news for Salcy Forest, one of my favourite places has now become much more accessible for people to visit

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EUD3cMgdU/

Sunday 19th July is Changing Places Toilet Awareness Day – an opportunity to highlight the importance of accessible facilities for disabled people and their families. Salcey Forest is proud to have a Changing Places toilet, helping more people enjoy the forest with dignity, comfort and confidence 🌳💚

For more information, visit our Access information page:
www.forestryengland.uk/salcey-forest/access-information

16/07/2026

This week we are sadly saying a good bye and best wishes to the wonderful Natasha.

She moves into a new role as an OT working in a school full time. The school will be so blessed to have her creative, colourful and passionate input ❤️

From all at Helping Hands, we say Thank you and good bye 👋

03/07/2026

What does an OT do when they have been travelling around with a woggle in their car for over a year 🤔 ????

Make fine motor resources !!

Push ...Pinch ....Pull

26/06/2026

End of year social gathering at an incredible art fundraiser for

Look what these wonderful bunch of humans can create when they allow themselves time

We even had a winning art piece amongst us!!

As a team we are SO privileged to support all the mighty families, schools and teams we work with!

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey!

Helping Hands Team️ 🙌

26/06/2026

This week has been all about adapting. 🌞💦

Change can be challenging, whether it's big or small. The recent extreme weather has meant adapting routines, finding alternatives to usual sensory regulation strategies, and rethinking therapeutic activities.

But with every challenge comes an opportunity. This week we've embraced the sunshine, explored new ways to achieve therapy goals, and discovered that progress doesn't always have to look the same (all while keeping cool! 😎).

Slip-and-slides, water play, and sensory fun should be accessible to everyone. Watching these incredible young people laugh, engage, and thrive has brought so much joy to my week. ✨💙