We have had quite a few changes recently with us getting busier and working with more groups. We have been lucky enough to welcome some new team members on board who are co-facilitating some of the groups that we run for local schools. Alex Penfold, who worked with us for the Autumn term has had to move on due to increased workload with her job as a Mental Health Nurse within the NHS, a role that she is very proud of. We are very sad to lose Alex as part of the team, as she was incredibly skilled and a lot of fun! We wish her all the best and hope that she can visit us sometime soon.

Having said that, this means that we have been able to welcome Sarah Watson and Michaela Despot to the team, who both bring a wide range of skills and experience to our work.

Danielle and Sarah have a long working relationship out of Sarah’s site at Life on Dreams, Swadlincote. Sarah is an integrative psychotherapist and has worked in addiction treatment centres, clinical settings and with the YMCA offering counselling and equine facilitated therapies to adults and young people. Her back ground as a professional equestrian, riding instructor, foster carer and youth worker brings a depth of experience to our offering at Pont Partnerships that isn’t just about therapy. She has worked in forest settings with young people and hopes to help our young people find different ways of being outside and connecting with nature.

Michaela has had a passion for horses since she was a child and was fortunate to learn to ride from the age of 7 years old. Michaela believes in the therapeutic aura of being around horses and the therapeutic

value of horses at therapists. Michaela completed her Equine Assisted Psychotherapy training at LEAP in September 2018, having gained a Diploma Level 5 with The Crossfields Institute: The LEAP Method.

Michaela is a qualified mental health nurse whose background is the specialist area of eating disorders. She has worked within the NHS in an inpatient setting for over 12 years working with individuals who are affected

by eating difficulties, distorted body image and low self esteem.

Michaela is currently working within a specialist perinatal inpatient and community team with mothers who are at risk of developing post part psychosis and pre and post natal depression, within the perinatal period. Michaela lives with her family, her beloved dog and owns two horses.