STEPNEY BANK STABLES LTD

Stepney Bank Stables (SBS) is the only charity in Newcastle that uses horses to engage with disadvantaged young people. We provide a unique opportunity where young people across Newcastle can access the therapeutic benefits of working alongside horses whilst developing vital skills and making positive connections with their peers. SBS is the first accredited Happy Brain centre in the UK and as part of our work, we deliver Happy Brain sessions which are designed to give young people the tools to build a happier, more rewarding life with integrity, purpose and self-adjustment.

Each year we engage with 1,200 young people living in some of the most deprived areas of Newcastle such as Walker, Shielfield and Byker. Many of the young people we support face huge challenges including difficulties engaging with mainstream education, a lack of free extracurricular activities as well as poor mental and physical health outcomes. Our experienced team of youth workers deliver a range of horse- based activities which are designed to boost self- esteem so young people have the confidence to work towards their goals and access new education, employment or volunteering opportunities.

Disadvantaged young people in Newcastle face huge challenges, including:

- Difficulties engaging with mainstream education, which can result in a lack of self- esteem and belief in their ability to succeed

- Mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression as well as loneliness and social isolation. Evidence from the National Institute of Health highlights the rise in the amount of young people experiencing clinical depression, anxiety and loneliness across the UK.1 These concerns have been echoed by the young people we work with at SBS and our partner organisations across the North East.

- Lack of physical activity and few opportunities to access free extracurricular activities which leads to poor physical health

- Living in areas with high levels of poverty: Evidence from the North East Child Poverty Commission shows that more than one in three children in Newcastle are living below the poverty line.

Our key achievements

Each year we support over 1,200 disadvantaged young people across Newcastle.

We deliver a free equestrian program at our stables in the centre of Newcastle for children and young people aged 8- 18. We also deliver a range of outreach services in partnership with local charities across the North East.

As the only charity in Newcastle that provides an opportunity to work alongside horses, we continue to experience high demand for our services. For example, we often have a waiting list of over 100 young people.

With over 20 years of experience, we are experts in delivering targeted interventions for young people across Newcastle. Our unique horse- based model is proven to be effective and has had a transformational impact on the lives of many young people. The outcomes we aim to achieve for all of the young people we support are:

- Increased physical activity, resulting in improved physical health and mental wellbeing

- Cultivating a sense of responsibility in the young people we work with, helping them to feel part of their community and connect with others who live locally

- Development of vital transferrable skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership and time management

- Enhanced engagement in education, training and work opportunities at SBS and beyond 

- Improved confidence and self- esteem to help young people reach their full potential and achieve their goals

Last year our young people contributed over 10,000 hours of volunteering time, 133 young volunteers attended each week and we worked with 86 new junior volunteers (aged 8 -11) and 156 new young volunteers (aged 12-18).

In 2023, we provided 280 free riding lessons, six new peer mentors were trained, 45 holiday activity fund spaces were offered to children on free school meals and five young people started training for their British Horse Society stage one exam.