Case Study

Nuzzlets  

In 2004 Mary Chapman established a small voluntary group called Nuzzlets. Her main objectives were to help abandoned and rescued animals and through them provide therapy and education to disabled and terminally ill children. 

In early 2006 Mary received a Community Champions grant from the Community Foundation. This grant enabled Mary to get advice and to register as a charity, to provide training to volunteers and produce publicity material. 

The group has gone from strength to strength and is now a registered charity with Defra accreditation. The farm teaches children about nature and farming and specialises in helping the families of children with disabilities, special needs and children who are terminally ill, through animal assisted therapy. 

Over the last two years Nuzzlets has also received two Local Network Fund grants via the Community Foundation, enabling the group to build a log cabin workshop, with facilities for children's activities, wheelchair friendly paths, mobile shelter and equipment to provide training days for special needs children and a year round activity club. 

"Nuzzlets always was quite unique in its aims, provision and facilities. It is now magical too! The log cabin is superb. It provides an experience that children will remember with affection. Visits are now much longer. The visitors are warm and dry, stimulated by the variety of sensory activities that are available. It is an ideal location for a picnic or a classroom for learning where children's imagination can run free. Families and carers can relax and enjoy the environment."
Mary Chapman, Co-founder of Nuzzlets