Headlands animals alpaca punch for students’ mental health

Action for Children’s Headlands School in Penarth has introduced four Peruvian alpacas to the school, delighting students and helping improve their mental health.

The famously calm and gentle animals make a striking sight as they roam the school grounds with students actively involved in their care and the development of the outdoor space.

Benefits to mental health of students and staff is the key motivation for introducing the alpacas that join Dexter the companion dog and a growing number of hens kept at the school.  At a time of national crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, their impact has been particularly important.

David Gillingham, a teacher overseeing the care of the alpacas, said: ‘We are redeveloping a huge area of our outdoor space for the alpacas and hens and have a group of students working with us on the project that have really flourished.  Where they have been previously unengaged in academic work, they have relished the physical work and the autonomy we give them in building and maintaining the space.  Their mental health has definitely improved, they love the animals and some are keen to work as landscape gardeners when they leave school.’

Casey Jones (15), a student at the school said: ‘I enjoy working outdoors and caring for the alpacas.  They are lovely and interesting animals that seem to have a calming affect on other students too.  We are building feeding stations and picnic tables for everyone to come and enjoy the animals. This part of school is really good for me.  When I came to Headlands last year, I was angry but I’m much better now, the atmosphere here is great and working with the animals has also helped me a lot.’

Maxine Cahill, Vice Principal for Care at Headlands, added: ‘There is a lot of research stating the positive mental health benefits of pets and interaction with animals.  This has been key to our whole approach to this innovative initiative.  The students here love Dexter, our companion dog and they have responded so well to the alpacas too.  The chickens and the chicks they’ve produced have also gone down a storm and provide something for the students to care for, nurture and enjoy during a very stressful time in their young lives.’