CHILDREN from schools in Odiham will get the chance to play with some dogs as part of a new pilot scheme to improve mental health and well-being.

The project to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children through canine assisted learning has been given the green light thanks to £30,000 of Hampshire County Council funding.

Executive member for countryside and rural affairs, councillor Edward Heron, announced the funds at his decision day on Thursday (January 16).

“This innovative pilot between Hart Rotary Club and Canine Assisted Learning (CAL) is an important step forward in seeing how dogs can be used in a school setting, by trained professionals, to help children communicate and regulate a range of emotions and mental health aspects such as anger, anxiety and low self-esteem,” Cllr Heron said.

The money has been allocated from the Parish and Town Council Investment Fund following an application from Hart Rotary Club.

During the pilot, dogs will be used by practitioners to help eligible three to 18-year-olds develop ways to “regulate their thoughts and feelings” and “find strategies to tackle and replace negative emotions with positive and calming ones”.

Cllr Heron added: “We look forward to following the progress and outcome of this pilot as we believe there is real potential for the dogs to help Hampshire’s children and young people grasp a whole range of life-long skills – emotional, social and educational.”

The pilot will run for one academic year (2020-2021) and is expected to help more than 30 children at four schools in the Odiham and Hartley Wintney areas, covering more than 600 hours.