Elysian

Elysian We provide education, alternative provision, and therapeutic placements for children and young people. Learn more on our website!

Our services also include training, events, and diverse group programs for all ages and needs. Shamley Green's Hiring Out Horses Licence
• Nadine O'Hara, Elysian Animal Assisted Interventions Ltd
• Licence No: LN/000008343

Shamley Green's Animal Exhibition Licence
• Nadine O'Hara, Elysian Animal Assisted Interventions Ltd
• Licence No:000008344

Reptile Connections 🦎Welcome back! 🐌🐸🐉 This week at Reptile Connections, we met all our different reptiles and watched o...
04/02/2026

Reptile Connections 🦎

Welcome back! 🐌🐸🐉

This week at Reptile Connections, we met all our different reptiles and watched our snakes being fed. 🐍 We also spent time with our tortoises, Sheldon and Yoda and gave them a bath. 🐢

Are you looking for a fun and engaging learning opportunity for your child?

Reptile Connections is a weekly session for children who flourish in a nurturing environment, ideal for those who are home-educated or on a part-time timetable.

Reptile Connections at Elysian is a unique, hands-on learning experience where young people explore the natural world through interaction with reptiles and small animals.

Sessions help develop confidence, responsibility, communication and curiosity in a calm and nurturing environment.

📍 Location: Staple Ash Farm, Staple Ash Lane, Froxfield, Petersfield, GU32 1DJ

🕐 Time: Wednesdays, 1pm–3pm.

👧 Ages: 6–16 years.

🏅 Earn: AQA Unit Awards.

Who is it for:
Young people aged 6 to 16 years. Ideal for those who are home educated or on a part-time timetable.

Who can refer:
Any parent or carer who would like their child to gain hands-on experience with animals. Parents/carers and professionals can refer.

Why sign up:
Young people gain valuable social and emotional skills, learn about animal care and behaviour, and can work towards earning AQA unit awards.

How to sign up:
Please contact the referrals team for more information or to book: refer@elysianuk.org

Or visit our website: https://elysianuk.org/what-we-offer/reptile-connections/

03/02/2026

Creative Connections

This week at Creative Connections, we explored how creativity can blossom when it meets nature. From painting inspired by our animal friends to crafting with natural materials, our young creators let their imaginations run wild.

Are you looking for a creative and supportive learning experience for your child? Creative Connections is a weekly group for home-educated and part-time learners who flourish in a calm, nature-based environment.

Creative Connections at Elysian is a nurturing and inspiring space for young minds to grow, create, and connect.

Children can develop creativity, gain new experiences, and make meaningful friendships in a nurturing space.

📍 Location: Staple Ash Farm, Staple Ash Lane, Froxfield, Petersfield, GU32 1DJ
🕐 Time: Tuesdays, 1pm–3pm
👧 Ages: 6–16 years
🏅 Earn AQA Unit Awards

Who can refer: Any parent or carer who would like their child to gain hands-on experience with animals.

Who is it for:
Young people aged 6 to 16 years. Ideal for those who are home educated or on a part-time timetable. Parents and carers professionals can refer

Why sign up:
Young people gain valuable social and emotional skills, learn about animal care and behaviour, and can work towards earning AQA unit awards.

How to sign up:
Please contact the referrals team for more information or to book: refer@elysianuk.org
Or visit our website: https://elysianuk.org/what-we-offer/creative-connections/.

02/02/2026

This week during equine connections at Elysian Shamley Green! 💜🐴

02/02/2026

This week at Elysian Shamley Green we’ve been learning…💜🐴

30/01/2026

This week as well as English, Maths and Science, animal care has been main focus. Much more too come next week

29/01/2026

🌿🪨 Learning in Nature at Elysian, Shamley Green 🌼🌱
This week we’ve been exploring rocks and soil, and to bring our learning to life we visited Wisley Gardens 🌳🌸. We discovered a wide variety of plants and flowers, learned about the history of Wisley, and explored how vegetation changes with the seasons.

The young people had a fabulous time, fully absorbed in the beauty of nature and learning through real-life experiences 💚✨

29/01/2026

✨ Easter Trail and Farm Animal Experience ✨

Looking for Easter family fun at Elysian.
Join us for a relaxed, hands on Easter experience for everyone.

Easter Trail and Farm Animal Experience

Explore the farm by following a self-led Easter trail, solving clues along the way and enjoying Easter themed activities. Once the trail is complete, visitors will take part in a guided animal session where you can meet, feed, and learn about our friendly farm animals.

A fun Easter day out that brings people together, combining outdoor adventure with animal experiences.

What’s included

🐰 A self-led Easter trail around the farm
🐰 Easter clues and activities
🐰 A small Easter treat at the end of the trail
🐰 Guided animal feeding and meet the animals session

📅 Dates and locations
4th April – 11th April

Running across our sites at Liss, Shamley Green, and West Horsley

⏰ Morning and afternoon sessions available

🕑 Session details
2 hour group sessions

🎟️ Booking information

Booking is essential as spaces are limited.

For further information please contact:
📧 events@elysianuk.org

👉 Book your place here:
https://elysianuk.org/book-now/

29/01/2026

✨ Easter Trail and Pony Play ✨

Looking for Easter family fun at Elysian.
Join us for a relaxed, hands on Easter experience for everyone.

Easter Trail and Pony Play

Explore the farm by following a self-led Easter trail, solving clues along the way and enjoying Easter themed activities. Once the trail is complete, visitors will take part in Pony Play, spending time with our ponies through grooming, gentle interaction, and enjoying being around them in a calm farm setting.

A fun Easter day out that brings people together, combining outdoor adventure with a pony experience.

What’s included

🐰 A self-led Easter trail around the farm
🐰 Easter clues and activities
🐰 A small Easter treat at the end of the trail
🐰 Pony Play session including grooming and time with the ponies

📅 Dates and locations
4th April – 11th April

Running across our sites at Liss, Shamley Green, and West Horsley

⏰ Morning and afternoon sessions available

🕑 Session details
2 hour group sessions

🎟️ Booking information

Booking is essential as spaces are limited.

For further information please contact:
📧 events@elysianuk.org

👉 Book your place here:
https://elysianuk.org/book-now/

🌿 Volunteer Opportunity – Animal & Youth SupportElysian – Liss & West Horsley, Surrey/HampshireElysian is a specialist t...
29/01/2026

🌿 Volunteer Opportunity – Animal & Youth Support

Elysian – Liss & West Horsley, Surrey/Hampshire

Elysian is a specialist therapeutic education and animal-assisted intervention organisation working with young people who have experienced trauma, exclusion, or significant barriers to education.

Both our Liss site and our West Horsley site are currently looking for experienced adult volunteers to support weekend activity, with Saturdays being the main need at present. We are also happy to receive applications for other days and ad hoc support, depending on availability and experience.

🐴 The role may include:
• Supporting the care and welfare of animals (horses, small animals, farm environment)
• Helping organise and supervise volunteer tasks on site
• Supporting younger volunteers or work-placement students when present
• Working in line with Elysian’s safeguarding, health and safety, and trauma-informed practice
• Feeding back to Elysian leadership where needed

👤 This role may suit you if you:
• Are 18+
• Have relevant experience with animals (paid or voluntary)
• Are comfortable working around young people, including those with additional needs
• Can work within clear boundaries and safeguarding expectations
• Are reliable and able to take responsibility when required
• Understand this is not a casual volunteering role

🔒 Safeguarding & checks:

All volunteers are subject to:
• An application and informal interview
• Enhanced DBS checks
• References
• Safeguarding induction and any required training

📍 Locations & timing
• Locations: Liss, Hampshire and West Horsley, Surrey
• Days: Saturdays (priority), with scope for other days and ad hoc support

📝 How to apply

Please visit:
👉 https://elysianuk.org/work-with-us/
• Choose Animal Care Volunteer if you are applying for an animal-care-only role
• Choose Professional Volunteer if you have relevant experience and are interested in working with young people as well as animals.

Any questions - contact us on admin@elysianuk.org

*very strange AI photo for attention!’

27/01/2026

Creative Connections

This week at Creative Connections, we explored how creativity can blossom when it meets nature. From painting inspired by our animal friends to crafting with natural materials, our young creators let their imaginations run wild.

Are you looking for a creative and supportive learning experience for your child? Creative Connections is a weekly group for home-educated and part-time learners who flourish in a calm, nature-based environment.

Creative Connections at Elysian is a nurturing and inspiring space for young minds to grow, create, and connect.

Children can develop creativity, gain new experiences, and make meaningful friendships in a nurturing space.

📍 Location: Staple Ash Farm, Staple Ash Lane, Froxfield, Petersfield, GU32 1DJ
🕐 Time: Tuesdays, 1pm–3pm
👧 Ages: 6–16 years
🏅 Earn AQA Unit Awards

Who can refer: Any parent or carer who would like their child to gain hands-on experience with animals.

Who is it for:
Young people aged 6 to 16 years. Ideal for those who are home educated or on a part-time timetable. Parents and carers professionals can refer

Why sign up:
Young people gain valuable social and emotional skills, learn about animal care and behaviour, and can work towards earning AQA unit awards.

How to sign up:
Please contact the referrals team for more information or to book: refer@elysianuk.org
Or visit our website: https://elysianuk.org/what-we-offer/creative-connections/

27/01/2026

This weeks learning at Elysian Shamley Green! 💜🐴

23/01/2026

This week at Liss we worked hard on our writing skills in a scary story, operations in maths and pole work in equine, amongst all the other learning.

Address

Westland Farm, Lordshill Common
Guildford
GU50TL

Website

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Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning

Elysian was established in 2015, and is an Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning Service for children, young people, families and adults. We have a multidisciplinary team who work with clients needs in creative and effective ways, supporting their therapeutic and development goals. Our passion is centred around the therapeutic experience being with animals can be, and how they can assist us in developing ourselves. We also believe in the effect animals can have on recovery from trauma, injury or emotional distress. We have professionally qualified therapists and experienced staff, and some of our team information can be found at www.elysianuk.org. Our team has a significant track record of supporting clients to reach positive outcomes and achieving potential.

We facilitate individual and group sessions tailored to the clients needs. We receive referrals from professionals and parents, and a large majority of our referrals come from other services such as social care, education provisions and health.

The sessions are 50 minutes long and involve spending time with animals in a variety of ways. They vary from structured animal assisted activity to exploratory integrated equine and/or animal assisted therapy and are client led. Sessions are usually goal based and use an integrated therapeutic approach to work with the clients presenting needs.

We have a whole range of animals. These include pigs, sheep, chickens, guinea fowl, quails, horses and ponies, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, donkeys, rheas and lots of goats (of different breeds, mostly pygmy). We also have reptiles, including tortoise, snakes and bearded dragons. Clients, if they wish to, meet and interact with all of them.