“As a parent, it’s the best thing ever seeing your child enjoying something.”

When Irina realised her sons, 11-year-old David and eight-year-old Eli loved horses, she decided to use her grant from Family Fund for horse-riding lessons.

“David and Eli are autistic and non-verbal. They really care about each other, and David is a great older brother. David is really interested in technology and teaches me new things on my phone. Eli loves spending time on the trampoline, which we also received from Family Fund”. 

Irina told us that she is always learning and researching about autism, but that she knows it’s a very individual thing. “As their mum, one of my struggles is always thinking of how I can help my boys more. They can’t tell me what they need or want, so I have to guess or use my own intuition. It’s hard to watch them struggling to express themselves”. 

How Family Fund helped

David and Eli go to a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school. During their last school trip, their teachers told Irina how much the boys loved seeing the horses. “I couldn’t afford horse-riding lessons, so I applied for a grant from Family Fund. As soon as I saw the boys interact with the horses, I was shocked. They were so calm! They were like different children.” 

“As a parent, it’s the best thing ever seeing your child enjoying something. It’s so rewarding that it’s hard to explain. It felt like a milestone to me, seeing them so happy and finding something they love. You can’t compare it with anything. “

“I had read about autistic children and horses, and how it had been proven that horses are great for autistic children. Even just stroking the horses helped. But I had never experienced it.”

Autistic children can interact and engage more in the presence of a therapy animal. Indeed, animals can have calming effects on children when they hold or pet animals. 

When you apply for a grant from Family Fund, you can use your grant in many different ways. This includes days out, outdoor play, clubs, hobbies and activities. If you feel an experience like this could benefit your child, discover more here.

Family Fund believes that quality family time is everything. Your kindness makes it all possible. By donating £3 per month, you make magic moments happen. Thank you.