Welcome to the Autumn newsletter from the Equine Assisted Services Partnership (EASP)

As ACPEA is a member of the Equine Assisted Services Partnership, we thought you might be interested to read their latest newsletter.

Welcome to the Autumn newsletters from the Equine Assisted Services Partnership. Since our formation at the #LoveEAS Conference in February, our Board of Directors have been working hard behind the scenes to develop the support we can provide to our members who are registered on the Human Equine Interaction Register (HEIR). EASP is the standards-led membership body to support and represent a high quality EAS sector in the UK. We have been delighted to see so many renewed memberships and new organisations and individuals joining  the register.

Having listened to the feedback from participants at the event at Hartpury University and from an online members’ survey, we have been developing the EASP strategy to support our membership which includes all types of equine assisted service regardless of whether each profession is professionally regulated or accredited or not.

 

We have developed a new website and application process and in addition to EAS practitioners and training organisations, we now welcome Associate Membership from bodies who play a key role in the sector. We have been working collaboratively to further develop key relationships and make sure that the voice of the sector is heard at every opportunity. We work collaboratively and independently across the sector. The funds from membership fees are re-invested in the EASP offer and maintenance of HEIR.

 

We believe that the power of working in partnership is the key to preventing the sector from becoming fragmented. There are so many alternatives to EAS for health bodies and Local Authorities to commission; if we present a united front and collaborate, it is to the benefit of all.

 

Building awareness of EASP and the EAS sector

Our Directors have been delighted to speak and participate at key meeting and events over the summer including the ACPEA, ABRS, HETI and NEWC meetings. We also hosted a well-attended webinar for practitioners who are considering applying to HEIR to explain the five standards that we uphold and how to apply to the register. The questions and feedback gave the Board further thoughts about how EASP can support emerging and new organisations and individuals, as well as larger established providers and we believe that knowledge sharing can only improve the overall profile and benefits of the sector. 

 

We are also in the process of building relationships with other key stakeholders in the wider equestrian and equine world to improve awareness of the EAS sector and will share more information about this when some ideas have been formalised. 

 

Members’ Webinars 21 November & 3rd December

We will be hosting two members’ webinars to explain our strategy and the benefits of EASP membership in more detail.

 

The first will be held on Thursday 21st November at 6pm.  We appreciate that this is the same evening as the HETI Educational forum which some of our members may also be planning to attend, so our webinar will begin an hour before the HETI Forum. Feel free to eat with your cameras off during our session and leave as early as you need. We will aim to spend an hour maximum and members may email us with any questions or speak to and EASP Director after the event. To register to attend click here  click here

 

If that date and time isn’t suitable, we will be holding the same session again on Tuesday 3rd December at 7pm to register to attend this session instead click here

 

Developing benefits for our members through CPD and training 

Our members said that they would like to see more signposting to education, CPD and supervision. We have arranged a series of HEIR Time webinars which will start in the new year and are eligible to be counted as non-accredited, but valuable CPD.

These sessions would contribute to your CPD approach for your HEIR registration along with CPD you do elsewhere.

 

When

What

Register to Attend

Wed 15 Jan 7.30pm

Supervision and CPD

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1069092617799?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Wed 12 Feb 7.30pm

Statutory and Mandatory training

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1069102427139?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Wed 12 Mar 7.30pm

Core competencies

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1069115696829?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

We have also secured a very cost effective package of online training for EASP members that we will confirm the details about at the webinars.

 

Research 

Our members said that they wanted to be able to provide the evidence that their activities are credible and have positive outcome for participants and equines. More and more, commissioners are seeking empirical evidence and studies based on sound research. EASP has joined HETI (Horses in Education and Therapy International) so that we can participate in and develop the vital work and research that HETI is involved in and also help to inform national and international standards. We are part of HETI to represent the views of our members and we are developing other research opportunities with Hartpury University.

 

Welfare of equine and equid partners 

We have worked in collaboration with the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC) to develop welfare standards for equines in EAS. These have been agreed and published and are complementary to their general equine welfare standards. Equine Welfare Standards for Providers of Equine Assisted Services (EAS) - National Equine Welfare Council

 

Developing Standards

Over the coming months we will be establishing Reference Groups made from our membership to further develop national standards for different types of EAS.

We will be doing this in stages, and will be communicating more about this over the coming weeks. If you have a special interest or expertise in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine Assisted Learning or Hippotherapy and would like to get involved, please reply to this email stating which special interest you have. Once we know we have some willing participants, we will be in touch about how the reference groups will operate.

 

Save The Date - Conference and AGM

 

The EASP Annual Conference and AGM will be held at Hartpury University on 8th April 2024. Between now and then,  we will be developing an exciting and informative agenda. If there are any subjects or speakers in particular that you would like to be included, please let us know by 31st December and we will make enquiries. 

 

We look forward to seeing you soon and wish you all the best.

 

Anna Collins FCIM

Development Manager

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