A “furry animal” therapy project which helps improve the lives of the elderly and those in care homes has won a prestigious City of London award.

East London Advertiser: What a laugh... Nanny meets nanny down at Stepney City Farm [photo: Remi Bumstead]What a laugh... Nanny meets nanny down at Stepney City Farm [photo: Remi Bumstead] (Image: Remi Bumstead)

The project run by Stepney City Farm in London’s East End has won a £1,000 ‘Growing Localities’ prize from the City Corporation’s City Bridge Trust charity for its Furry Tales project.

Furry Tales runs outreach sessions where they visit residential and care homes and day centres with animals to improve quality of life for the elderly and those with dementia.

The animals help increase sensory stimulation and interaction by therapeutic animal-handling. The sessions, which are also held at the farm itself with the larger animals, prompt reminiscence, storytelling, curiosity and laughter.

“We are putting our prizemoney towards expanding our work to improve lives by connecting people with animals and nature,” Furry Tales founder Ione Maria Rojas explained. “This will allow us to run summer sessions at the farm for day centres, residential homes and those referred to us by the NHS.”

East London Advertiser: What a laugh... Nanny meets nanny down at Stepney City Farm [photo: Remi Bumstead]What a laugh... Nanny meets nanny down at Stepney City Farm [photo: Remi Bumstead] (Image: Remi Bumstead)

The ‘Growing Localities’ awards are for projects which give long-term benefits to people including improving physical and mental health. The 96 entries from organisations like Stepney City Farm in this year’s awards all motivate people in activities benefitting the environment and communities.