Pony Pals Lakeland

29/08/2026

Back to School & EBSA: Parent & Carer Check-In 💛

​While so much focus is rightly placed on how children feel about going back to school, we know the run-up to September can be just as exhausting, overwhelming, and nerve-wracking for you as parents and carers.

​When your child struggles with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), the back-to-school season isn't just about buying uniform and stationery. It’s about navigating heavy emotional waters, constant uncertainty, and an incredible amount of stress.

​The Unseen Weight on Parents & Carers
​If you are feeling anxious right now, please know that your feelings are entirely valid.

Many parents navigating EBSA describe feeling:
​Exhausted before the term even starts: Worrying about morning routines, attendance demands, and potential meltdowns.
​Isolated or misunderstood: Feeling judged by others who mistake deep-rooted anxiety for "bad behavior" or simple refusal.
​Helpless: Watching your child suffer with intense anxiety and feeling like you're running out of answers.
​Anxious about school communication: Dread at the thought of phone calls, emails, or difficult meetings regarding attendance.

​We’re Here to Listen
​At Pony Pals Lakeland CIC, we see the love, dedication, and sheer energy you pour into advocating for your young people every single day. We as parents have also been there and going through the same. You are carrying a lot, and you don't have to carry it in silence.
​We want to open up this space for you today:

​👉 HOW ARE YOU feeling about the return to school?
👉 What are your biggest worries or struggles right now as a parent or carer?
​Drop a comment below, send us a private message if you prefer, or simply leave a heart emoji if you just need to know you aren't alone in this. Let’s support one another. 🐴💙

​Pony Pals Lakeland CIC offers a calm, non-judgmental space for both young people and their families to reset, decompress, and build confidence through animal-assisted interaction.

We will be running NEW parent/carer pony time sessions 2pm - 2.30pm on Fridays. No pressure to talk to others if you don't want to, just quiet time with a pony and option to socialise. Booking essential. Small Groups of no more than 4 as we know how overwhelming it is for parents/carers being in large groups after being isolated for so long. ( if you have young children and no childcare they are welcome to come with you) Starting 11th september. £5 per parent/carer.
​

28/08/2026

🍁🦔🍂🌰🦔🍂🍁🌰🦔🍂🍁

We will be running Witch & Wizard Crafts throughout September.

🌰 Small, quiet groups accessible for all.🍁 Limited space available and booking essential. Dates to follow.

🧙Sessions available for Parent/Carers - held during school hours and evenings.

🐈‍⬛ Sessions for children/young people- held weekends

🧙‍♀️ Sessions for EBSA (children/young people not in school) & Home ed - Weekday Afternoons. (Booking essential)

☆☆☆☆☆SESSIONS☆☆☆☆☆

🦔 Potion making
🍁 Broomstick making
🧙 Witch/Wizard hat making
🎨 Spooky crafts
🍂 Scarecrow making
🦇 Monster masks
🐈‍⬛ Halloween Decoration crafts.

Adult/parent/carer Sessions inc:
🧙‍♀️ Broomstick, reef & wand Decoration crafts.

AFFORDABLE FOR ALL!

🐈‍⬛Children £6 pp (parent/carer free)

🧙‍♀️Family of 4 children £12 (parent/carer free)

🍁Adult £8 pp

EGREMONT

27/08/2026

Allot of families will be struggling with Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) around now.

Here are some tips on Supporting Our Young People Through the Transition 🐴💛
​As the summer holidays draw to a close, September can bring a complex mix of emotions for children and young people. While some look forward to seeing friends, many experience deep anxiety about returning to the school routine.

​For young people struggling with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), this isn't just "first-day jitters" or simple reluctance—it is a heavy, overwhelming anxiety that can feel impossible to shake. Some children/young people even have anxiety/panic attacks that severe that they struggle to breath in that moment.

​At Pony Pals Lakeland CIC, we spend time with so many incredible young people who find the transition back to the classroom challenging. We see how deeply these worries run, and we want parents and carers to know: you and your child are not alone.

​What EBSA Looks & Feels Like for Kids
​Children experiencing EBSA aren't being "defiant"—their nervous system is stuck in fight, flight, or freeze. In the run-up to September, they might be carrying hidden worries such as:
​Overwhelm & Noise: Worrying about sensory overload, busy corridors, and strict timetables after weeks of low-pressure home routines.
​Fear of Failure or Expectations: Anxiety around academic pressures, lost learning, or meeting new expectations.
​Social Anxiety: Feeling out of place, fearing changes in friend groups, or worrying about new teachers.
​Separation Anxiety: Struggling with the thought of being away from their safe space and loved ones at home.
​Physical signs like tummy aches, headaches, changes in sleep, withdrawal, or sudden outbursts often surge as the return date gets closer.

​Small Steps to Help Support Your Child
​Supporting a child with EBSA requires patience, compassion, and taking things one step at a time. Here are a few gentle strategies to help ease the transition:
​Acknowledge and Validate Their Feelings
​Avoid brushing off worries with "you’ll be fine." Instead, try: "I hear you, and it makes complete sense that you feel nervous. We’ll figure this out together." Validation builds trust.
​Re-establish Routines Slowly
​Gently bring back earlier bedtimes, meal routines, and morning wake-up times a week or two before school starts, so the physical adjustment isn't a shock to their system.
​Break the Unknown into Predictable Steps
​Drive or walk past the school route.
​Do a practice run of laying out uniforms or packing school bags. (This won't work for all as the sight of uniform can be a trigger in itself) You can ask for uniform to be part of reasonable adjustments so your child doesn't have to wear it if this is a trigger for them.
​Focus on small, manageable moments rather than the whole term ahead.
​Focus on Calm Grounding Activities
​Encourage activities that regulate the nervous system—spending time outdoors, tactile play, or quiet time with animals. Being in calm environments helps reset a heightened nervous system.

​Open Communication with School Early
​Reach out to your school’s SENCO or pastoral team now. Share what triggers your child's anxiety and ask for small adjustments (like a quiet check-in spot in the morning or a safe pass to leave class when feeling overwhelmed). YOUR CHILD IS ALLOWED REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS. READ SEND LAW so YOU know what support school SHOULD be giving your child and you know your rights if needs are not being met before mental health issues, broken trust and trauma is caused to your child. Too many children are forced into an environment what doesn't feel safe to them or not suitable for their needs. I have seen with my own eyes a teacher dragging a child inside the school doors from his mother. I could clearly see he was struggling with EBSA and spoke to the parent and school as its not ok. Parents feel helpless and think they have no choice but to get their child into school at any cost. YOU DO have a choice, and it's upto YOU to safeguard your child from the few teachers who don't understand or are ignorant to EBSA. YOU know what is best for your child REMEMBER THIS!

​How Pony Pals Can Help
​Animals—especially our calm, intuitive ponies—offer a non-judgmental space where children don't need to put on a mask or meet high expectations. Grooming, spending unpressured time outdoors, and connecting with our herd helps lower heart rates, soothe anxiety, and build quiet confidence.
​If your child needs a safe space to decompress, reset, or build resilience away from the noise, our doors are always open.

​💙 Remember: Progress isn't always a straight line, and taking small, patient steps is okay. You are doing a wonderful job advocating for your child.

​If you’d like to find out more about our gentle, animal-assisted sessions or how we can support your child, drop us a message.

26/08/2026

25/08/2026

We are excited to share more good news! We have been chosen as finalists for the In Cumbria Business Awards 2026. In the and category. Super proud of our team. We would also like to wish all of the other finalists good luck. Pony Pals Lakeland

19/08/2026

🎃 Get Ready for Spooktacular Fun at Pony Pals Lakeland! 🎃

​This September, we are hosting special Halloween Craft Sessions accessable for everyone to enjoy!

☆Low cost and family discounts available for those with larger families☆

We will be doing a few different
Sessions including:

● Broomstick & Wand crafts.
● kids crafts
● Parent/Carer Craft Sessions
● Pumpkin carving
● DIY Halloween decoration crafts.

Each session will be advertised with Dates and times available for booking. Spaces are limited to keep groups small.

Whether your young ones want to get creative or you’re looking for a relaxing, friendly chat with other parents and carers, we’ve got a session for you:

​✨ Children & Young People Craft Sessions
Fun, hands-on Halloween-themed crafts in a calm and welcoming environment!

​✨ Parent & Carer Social & Craft Sessions
A wonderful chance to take a break, enjoy some crafting, connect with other parents/carers and make your own Halloween decorations.

🧵 When: September (Dates & times available soon)

🧙‍♀️ Where: Pony Pals Lakeland
EGREMONT

​🎨 How to Book: Spaces fill up fast! Send us a message on Facebook or watsapp us to reserve your spot once we have availability slots posted.

​We can't wait to see you there for some festive autumn fun! 🐴🍂🎨

18/08/2026

We are to share that our Pony Pals Lakeland has been selected as a 2026 for the Diversity Event Award at the !

​To be recognized alongside so many inspiring individuals, groups, and projects across working to make our county a more place is an incredible honor.

We created the Pony Grotto to build a festive experience where everyone belongs. Traditional holiday events can often feel overwhelming, inaccessible, or exclusive for individuals with sensory processing needs, disabilities, or mobility challenges.
​We wanted to change that.

​The Pony Grotto was designed to be an , calm, and welcoming space. Our gentle offer a magical, non-judgmental form of connection—bringing comfort, quiet joy, and warmth to visitors of all ages and abilities. Many individuals who have don't like to have attention drawn to them, so our ponies take this worry away by being the focal point. We also can offer one to one sessions for individuals who suffer from social anxiety which allows these individuals to join in with the .

Being recognised by awards like this means allot to us.

I just want to everyone behind the scenes making all we do . Firstly we couldn't do any of this without our ponies, they are so much more than just pets to us, they are very much loved members. Thanks to Kirsty and Emma for giving up your time and for all you do to help. You both are truly ! Thanks to Stacy and the farm lads for all you do for us, from topping the fields and fixing things to putting bales in for us. We appreciate you all! Thank you to Tim & Tracey who let us set up base from their farm and have donated compost and wood chip for our previous projects from their West Coast Composting business which we are truly grateful for.
I would also like to thank all of our / and young people who have used our as it means so much to be part of your ❤️
Sam

#𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

15/08/2026

Please can everyone share with anyone in/around Beckermet. The skunk spotted at beckermet is our missing skunk called Badger. She is Neutored, friendly (will be frightened as been living wild for a few months now) and she is microchipped to Rosie with an Ulverston address. I really think she was let out by a spiteful individual not long after we got her as have had field gates opened and other things happening to our animals. The police have been informed and we have extra cameras up. We desperately want her home as she is missed so much. We have been out day and night for months trying to find her. Kenzie has just rang to say she has been spotted in Beckermet area. Please everyone keep a look out for her.

06/08/2026

➡ Introducing our new Cumberland Local Offer Rolling Survey.

📈 This survey will remain open on a rolling basis to gather feedback from Cumberland families when they would like to provide it, and on the topics that matter most to them. We are asking families for their feedback on the Local Offer website, as well as any SEND services they would like to provide feedback on: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/XceJGruBGn

We will review the responses to this survey regularly and keep families informed on how we are actioning feedback through our newsletters and our 'You said, We're Listening' pages on the Local Offer.