Wild Mane works alongside whatever support a young person already has around them. When a SENCO, GP, CAMHS worker, Early Help or education team refers, everyone stays aligned. Our work sits safely beside school plans, medical input and any wider support, instead of pulling in a different direction. That consistency matters for children who need steady, joined-up support.

Families shouldn’t have to carry this alone. A professional referral keeps the support within the right team and allows us to share baselines, updates and outcomes with someone who is already part of that child’s wider picture, or could be part of it in the future if further support is needed.

If Wild Mane is a participants first step into any kind of help, then Wild Mane can be a gentle entry point because we’re outdoors, practical and not clinical or intimidating. In these situations, a SENCO, GP, CAMHs specialist, Mental Health worker or Early Help worker can still refer.

Throughout the programme, we stay in touch with the referrer and share measured outcomes and recommendations to help guide any next steps.

People of all ages can come to Wild Mane for many different reasons, and the support they need can vary widely. Having a referrer involved ensures that our work runs alongside any support already in place, and that any changes, concerns or progress are seen within the right professional context. This oversight prevents gaps, avoids conflicting advice, and helps ensure the person receives the right help beyond Wild Mane if they need it.

Because Wild Mane offers something a little different to traditional services, schools and organisations may place us within different parts of their support pathways as referrals begin. This might sit within SEND provision, wellbeing offers, inclusion support, AP-style pathways or through health or community professionals, it simply depends on the needs of the young person or adult. Every referral is different. The referral helps ensure the right route is chosen and the right people remain involved. 

If a referral cannot be funded through the first route explored, we work with the referrer to identify the most suitable option. Securing the right pathway is a shared responsibility between Wild Mane and the professional making the referral. We do not leave families to navigate this alone, and we ask that referrers remain actively involved so the young person or adult is not passed between services or overlooked.

The Referrers Hub includes programme details, prices, policies, referral forms and information on how we measure progress before and after each programme. Participants also have their own hub for session guidance and resources, and parents or carers can access a dedicated hub that supports them through the process. If a team is unsure where Wild Mane fits, we’re happy to talk it through, in person or online.

When you refer into Wild Mane, you are not just sending a participant to “a nice experience with horses”. You are commissioning a structured, time-limited intervention that produces evidence you can use. Each place gives you clear written information you can bring into meetings, reviews and reports, showing what has been offered and how the person engaged with it. That strengthens your position when you are questioned by senior leaders, inspectors, panels or families about what support has actually been tried.

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Because the work is contained and outcome-focused, it helps you demonstrate a graduated response rather than a one-off gesture. You can show that you’ve moved beyond classroom, talking therapy or clinic-based strategies and offered a practical, alternative provision that many young people and adults are more able to access. That can reduce pressure on your own service, as you’re not holding everything in-house, and it gives you credible grounds for your next decision, whether that is to step support down, change approach, or escalate to a higher tier.

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Referrals also create a clear record that the decision to use Wild Mane was made through the proper channels. You are not relying on informal arrangements or parent-led private bookings. Instead, you have a trail that shows 'this person was assessed as suitable, the provision was authorised, and the outcomes were monitored'. That reduces your personal and organisational risk, supports your statutory responsibilities around wellbeing, SEND and inclusion, and gives you something concrete to stand on when you are asked, “What have you done to support this person so far?”