The Easter Egg Drive – Fundraiser to feed therapy bunnies.

Noah’s ART in Hyde is fundraising to help feed their therapy Rabbits and Guinea Pigs.

The family run non-profit organisation has been helping the community for the past 10 years.

The group offers an alternative approach to therapy and mental health and wellbeing, through 1-1 sessions, community outreach projects, school services and many more.

Alana Wight, one of the animal assisted therapist, spoke on the benefits of animal assisted therapy: “if you like animals you’ll know the feeling that you get when you come back from work and your dogs pleased to see you; they just accept you and are happy to be with you all the time and that’s such a boost to your self-esteem.

“Even sitting stoking them is so relaxing and mindful that it can really help if you’re struggling with feelings of sadness."

One of the many different species of therapy animal at Noah's ART. 

Founder Sharon Hall, an experienced mental health nurse, started with just an idea and it has now grown to become a wide-ranging unique service.

Noah’s ART offers mental health and wellbeing service for all ages through their animal-assisted interventions.

Animal-assisted intervention is not a standalone therapy itself, it helps the individual engage in therapeutic activities such as physiotherapy or psychotherapy.

After having a tough couple of years with funding and loosing their previous building, Noah’s ART is campaigning to raise more funds.

They are currently fundraising through and Easter Egg Drive, where all money donated will go towards the animals ongoing care and upkeep.

“A lot of the time we do fundraisers about the animals so if they need vet treatment for any reason we do fundraisers via Facebook, Instagram things like that.

“At Christmas we did like the calendars, so we were selling calendars with pictures of the animals on and most recently is our Easter egg drive to raise some funds for food for the animals."

Easter Egg Drive Poster Image credit: Noah's Art

Not only do Noah’s Art offer a variety of therapy sessions, but they also carry out funded courses for adults: “they are very much based around animal care so if anyone’s interested in working with animals but maybe doesn’t know where to start it’s a really good place to get your foot in the door.

“It is also a good way to reintegrate as well if you’re struggling with social anxiety and would prefer to work in a smaller group of people rather than a college setting. It’s a lot more relaxed because you can sit and cuddle a rabbit or a dog whilst also learning”.

The P.A.W.W.S courses cover People, Animals, Welfare, Wellbeing and Skills, and help create more opportunities for the individuals on the courses: “We have had a lot of people go on to Tameside College for example to do animal care. Also, a lot of people have actually stayed on here to volunteer, a few of them have done the courses and gone on to be outreach volunteers or ended up as staff.

“People mainly say it’s self-confidence; that’s the main thing they learn even though we’re here to learn about the animals it’s the boosting their self esteem that actually is the biggest impact that the courses have."

Alana told us about how every donation helps: “Every little part makes a difference and we’d be extremely grateful, and sharing our message, sharing the things that we do, getting involved, anything to promote Noah’s ART would be really helpful."

For more information on the services and fundraisers at Noah’s ART you can visit their website www.noahs-art.co.uk