welcome
Hello, we are Amy’s Trust, a charitable organisation providing an Equine Facilitated Learning service to children and young people in the Nottinghamshire area.
Amy’s Trust is set up in memory of Amy Duffield whose connection with horses inspires our work empowering children and young people.
The Trust was originally setup by her mother, Sharon Duffield, who dedicated the rest of her life to fundraising in memory of her daughter. It has since evolved into the charity Amy’s Trust CIO.
Our story
Amy Duffield, 1989 – 2013
Born in 1989, Amy came into the world as the only child to her parents Sharon and Tom. She was their everything.
In 1997, Tom passed away suddenly – this was understandably a very difficult time for both Sharon and Amy. Together, they found some solace through their relationship with animals, including the companionship they found with horses.
From a young age Amy was a keen rider and cherished the bond she made with her horses. She continued to nurture this love throughout her life, maintaining her commitment to them during her education and time studying at Leeds University. It was apparent that the bond she held with her horses helped her deal with the stresses of modern life and acted as a constant in what continues to be an ever-changing world.
In 2013 Amy fell ill with what most assumed to be a ‘common cold’. Unfortunately her condition deteriorated quickly and in the space of four days the worlds of everyone close to her changed irrevocably. Despite the best efforts of the Nottingham University Hospital’s ICU teams Amy passed away in August 2013.
You can read the full story of Amy’s Trust here:
about US
our story
The journey of Amy’s Trust began with a girl and her connection with horses. It continued with a mother’s love for her daughter and a profound belief in the healing potential of the horse-human bond. It has since grown into a sanctuary for young people where healing and growth can unfold.
the people
Our team brings together passionate individuals dedicated to supporting the mental and emotional health of children and young people through the healing power of horses. Each person at Amy’s Trust contributes their unique talents to create a professional and successful charity provision.
the place
Surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Vale of Belvoir, our facility provides a peaceful setting for young people to experience connection during challenging times. With purpose-built spaces for both horse and human, Amy’s Trust offers a haven where young people can find their way.
mission
We are Amy’s Trust, a charity providing Equine Facilitated Learning to children and young people in the Nottinghamshire area.
Amy’s Trust is set up in memory of Amy Duffield whose connection with horses inspires the work we do.
Our mission is to support children and young people experiencing mental and emotional health challenges through Equine Facilitated Learning.
OUR WORK
the service
Our service supports children and young people experiencing mental and emotional distress by bringing together humans and horses in an environment that fosters healing, learning and growth. Through mindfully guided sessions, individuals engage with our herd in ways that promote self-awareness, emotional regulation and wellbeing — all within a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
efl
Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) works in partnership with the natural sensitivity and authenticity of horses to enable powerful learning experiences. Horses are experts at providing immediate and authentic feedback. Exploring this feedback with the support of an EFL practitioner allows individuals to recognise patterns, develop new skills, and create meaningful change in their lives.
Policies
Our comprehensive policies reflect our proactive approach to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all participants, staff, and horses at Amy’s Trust. These policies provide the framework for upholding our professional, legally compliant charitable EFL provision of the highest integrity. This enables everyone to benefit fully from the healing environment we work to create.
Vision
In recognition of the desperate need for nurturing spaces capable of supporting children and young people in mental and emotional distress, Amy’s Trust’s vision follows:
“To provide and continue to develop a peaceful sanctuary that fosters connection and healing, changing the lives of children and young people in our community”
At no time has there been a greater need for the space, time and care to discover who we are and find out what it means to be truly well. We stand as part of this movement towards unity by protecting our land and working with the horses and nature to provide a safe haven, capable of facilitating the healing and a restoration of health our children and young people deserve.
GET INVOLVED
volunteer
From working the land to supporting behind the scenes, volunteers play a valued role at Amy’s Trust. We are truly grateful to all our volunteers for sharing their time and talents with us. If you are interested in volunteering with us you can find out more information on the volunteer page via the link below.
donate
Your financial support directly impacts our ability to provide EFL experiences to children and young people suffering from mental and emotional distress. Every contribution, regardless of size, helps maintain our facility, care for our horses, and develop programmes that transform lives through the power of connecting with horses and nature.
gratitude
Thank you for being here. Your supportive presence on the other side of this screen is not underestimated. Our gratitude extends to every single person, business, organisation, horse, and blade of grass (!) that contributes to making our work possible (or easier). One way we love to celebrate our community is through our gratitude pin board – check it out!
giving
Donations, bequests, fundraising, company giving and grants help us to continue working to support children and young people in our community whilst keeping Amy & Sharon’s legacy alive. You can find more information on each area below.
brochure
Download our brochure to discover how Amy’s Trust harnesses the healing power of horses to support children and young people facing mental and emotional health challenges.
Contact us
Have a question about our provision? We’d love to hear from you. Fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Please be aware we are only a small team juggling land care, horse care, (self care!), sessions and the rest! Your email is important to us and we will respond as soon as possible.
“There’s something about the outside of a horse that’s good for the inside of a man”
Winston Churchill (Quoted by Amy Duffield in her blog)
Amy's trust CIO 