A giant African land snail named Herbert and a springer spaniel called Nellie are giving young patients at the St Aubyn Centre in Colchester a confidence and wellbeing boost. The animals are part of the therapy programme at the centre's Therapeutic Education Department, which provides education for teenagers receiving inpatient care for mental health difficulties.
Therapy animals bring comfort and engagement
Headteacher Jim English brings his family dog Nellie, a six-year-old springer spaniel, into the school once a week. Nellie has been a therapy dog for about four-and-a-half years. According to English, "She gets on magnificently with everyone, she is as much a therapy dog for the staff here as she is for the young people. The young people are usually absolutely delighted to have her in and will cuddle and play with her in the classroom."
Nellie not only provides comfort but also draws young people into lessons, especially those who struggle to engage in education. English said, "I will offer the children the opportunity to take her for a walk or do some agility work. Because she is so well trained if I teach the young people the commands she will respond to them, and they're just so overjoyed." This can inspire them to do project work about animals and gain qualifications that could lead to future careers in animal care.
Herbert the snail helps regulate emotions
Eight-year-old Herbert is one of three giant African land snails the education unit has owned over the years. Students have been known to hold them during lessons to help regulate their emotions. Jo Kedian, lead science teacher, said holding Herbert is like having a hand massage. She commented, "He did have a friend but about five years ago we had a patient who so, so loved him she kept him. We are thinking about getting another one, we are also thinking about getting a prickly stick insect. I had locusts here for a while, we grew them and they would fly around the room. I had a patient once who would sit with one on each shoulder and do her work."
Additional animal support
In addition to Nellie and Herbert, a volunteer from Essex Therapy Dogs brings her Coton De Tolear dogs in to visit once a week. The school also works closely with Dedham Therapy Farm, where young people can help look after animals including alpacas, sheep, chickens and donkeys.
Trust in animals over humans
English said, "I think in general we've come to learn in the education department the value of animals working with children, particularly children with mental health problems. They will trust an animal more than they will trust a human, particularly if human beings have let them down or harmed them in the past."
The school, which is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and the centre are run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. The trust's child and adolescent mental health wards at the St Aubyn Centre and the Poplar Unit in Rochford were recently graded good by the Care Quality Commission, following inspections that finished in March.
