A CHARITY which uses horses to help children who are in need of support, has been boosted by a £45,000 grant.

El Nino Children's Charity, in Taylor's Lane, Breightmet, was given the cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the improvement it has made to hundreds of youngsters' lives since it opened six years ago.

The centre provides hippotherapy -therapy through horses - and it is run by Susan Gutierrez and husband Abel, from Barcelona, who teaches youngsters the work of a farrier and how to craft objects from metal.

The children are referred to the centre by social services, schools and Connexions, the young people's support group.

Mrs Gutierrez said: "We do a lot of work to restore children's self-esteem, often with bullies and kids who've been bullied.

"For a bullied child, we can get them to do exercises with the horse where they're controlling it physically.

"They realise that if they can control a creature as big and powerful as a horse, they are not a pushover, that they can stand up for themselves.

"And for bullies, we show them they don't have to be physical to control a horse.

"If you stand up tall to a horse it will back off. If you talk gently to it, it will follow you."

The grant will go to the centre's "Forging the Future" project, which teaches youngsters to become farriers.

The money will pay for a new forge at the centre and for a wagon, which will be converted into a mobile forge and taken to schools, children's centres and fairs to teach people about farriers and the history of blacksmithing.

The money will also fund training placements for youngsters not currently in education, employment or training.

Mrs Gutierrez, who used to import and export competition horses, said: "The forges will be key to sharing the blacksmith's craft with youngsters.

"We're very grateful for the grant, it will make a real difference. The farrier's work gives some of the students something to aspire to.

"We have one young offender who came here as part of his reparation order. He wanted to be a joiner but had no skills. But he built animal hutches and stayed on with us for a while. We made a portfolio of his work for him and he ended up getting into college because of it.

"One 12-year-old girl had been so bullied she would run into a stable if someone came into the yard. She had lots of emotional problems and was with us for three years.

"She was dragged by a horse through the field into mud and discovered she was fine, not bothered. She became a mentor with us and looked after other kids. Now she is a riding instructor in the south of England."

The charity will be visiting schools to encourage pupils to learn about the skills of their forefathers.

Some children will take part in a research project examining the importance of the blacksmith trade to the area.

Tony Jones, regional manager of the Heritage Lottery Fund, praised the El Nino centre, saying: "This is a fantastic project which will not only preserve an ancient skill, but will allow people to try their hand at something new and unusual.

"We're committed to funding projects that every community can take pride in and learn about their local heritage."