IT MAY be a small west Dorset charity but it's had a huge impact - and now has an award to prove it.

The HorseCourse, started in 2010 by Harriet Laurie from Askerswell, has not only just been awarded the regional winners of the national FSI Small Charity Big Impact Award, fighting off competition from hundreds of other small charities, but has the promise of £5,000 from Dorset County Council.

But there's a catch - the charity has to raise £2,500 itself first and has started a Crowdfunding campaign to do it.

TheHorseCourse, has just moved its headquarters to a former dairy farm in Weymouth and needs the money to improve the facilities there.

CEO Harriet Laurie said: "If we can quickly raise £2,500, then Dorset County Council have committed to donating £5,000.

"We need to build a warm, private cabin looking into the arena - for vulnerable young people during breaks, and for their case-workers or families who often come to observe the sessions with horses.

"We also have a horse barn where our horses come and go as a herd. It is set up so that humans can hang out alongside the horses - but it is very rough at the moment and will only be at all comfortable while the weather is nice. Our aim is to make the human side into a warm, friendly café / kitchen for learning and group sessions."

TheHorseCourse works with over 200 people per year from eight years old and around 70 per cent of its work is with young people between the ages of 8-18.

Harriet added: "We are a world-leader in working with those who are not responding to traditional talk-based approaches. All of our work is by referral from professionals in education, children’s services, mental health, social work, or other specialist organisations who work with people who are excluded from school or society because of serious difficulties with managing their mental health, emotions and behaviour. This can present as isolation, self-harm, aggression, offending, drug and alcohol misuse or many other problems.

"By the time we see young people, they have usually been through multiple services and we are often a last resort. Our referrers tell us that 10-20 per cent of their caseloads fit into this “hard to reach” bracket and we present a much-needed option with real evidence of success."

As part of the award the charity now has a four-minute video on the crowdfunder.co.uk/thehorsecourse-youth-spaces website that explains how the charity works and where donations can be made.

It will also be featured in a book to be delivered to 10 Downing Street and get expert sessions on leadership and marketing, have an impact audit for their organisation from the FSI.