About us and the idea behind Hamish & Milo

Clare is a teacher, educational psychotherapist, consultant, trainer and supervisor. Her work in the field of children’s mental health and education is driven by her desire to advocate and inspire schools and pastoral teams to prioritise children’s wellbeing and to offer them the life chances that enable them to thrive within a complex ever-changing world.

Anne has worked in the corporate creative world for almost 30 years and has run her own design agency since 2011. Anne takes Clare’s ideas and turns them into visual tangible products. She created the brand; produces the artwork, illustrations, website, and manages the production of all of the resources.

In their discussions, they were very aware of the powerful role their pets played in comforting and connecting with their children. Over the years Anne’s dogs, Bob then Hamish, and Clare’s daughter’s guinea pigs, Fudge and Poppy would offer limitless, cuddles, spontaneous fun and playfulness helping their children to feel happier, regulated and loved.

They began talking about developing a wellbeing resource together, combining Anne’s commercial creativity with Clare’s ideas for an approach to support children’s emotional development. Both so aware of the way their own children’s pets offered comfort and unconditional care, especially when life felt tough or challenging and their recognition of the power of pets became a central feature for their work together.

With a lack of support for children’s emotional health, massively stretched services, and huge waiting lists for CAMHS, support for vulnerable children is worryingly sparse.

For many children, school isn’t easy and when children are worrying about their learning or friendships, when things at home are difficult, or when they have experiences that adversely affect them, their wellbeing suffers, and they are at risk of long-term mental health challenges.

Clares’ work has always been about advocating for greater awareness of children’s emotional health and supporting schools to understand behaviour in the context of what the child is trying to communicate. She is acutely aware that children need opportunities to talk with adults who really listen and care about them, and to know that they are not alone in their feelings and experiences. Having the chance to talk to their peers with an adult who can help them to connect, feel heard and feel a sense of belonging whilst doing activities together, can be extremely powerful and life-changing for children.

There are amazing staff in schools who work really hard to be the listening ear, the advocate, and to help children express and share how they are feeling, but Clare’s vast experience in schools has made her increasingly aware that pastoral staff really need quality resources to help them.

So Hamish & Milo was created!

The Hamish & Milo Wellbeing Intervention resources was born from a great desire to offer pastoral staff in schools a comprehensive framework and a complete range of activities that can help vulnerable children gain an understanding of their own emotional experiences and can offer them insight, awareness, and approaches that help them regulate, reflect and thrive.

Clare and Anne are both passionate about helping all children to enjoy life and to thrive, despite adversity.

Clare and Anne recognise completely how having a pet is very special and so many children love being able to talk to or cuddle a pet or an animal. They can help us to regulate, calm, feel loved and special. They can also make us laugh at the funny spontaneous things they do and playing with them allows us to have fun and feel a sense of togetherness.

As well as running Hamish & Milo together they are now even greater friends, with a common goal and shared purpose. They have shared both laughter and tears and know the importance of trust, fun and mutual respect!

Hamish is a Cavapoochon, who is a four year old bundle of love. Hamish joined Anne’s family during a particularly tough time emotionally, especially for her children, and has brought laughter, emotional support and a huge amount of fun to their lives.

An integral part of family life, and now the company, Hamish is always found attempting to steal the socks from the sock puppet kits, sitting in the window to monitor all the deliveries and generally getting under everyone’s feet – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Hamish provides silent support with a cuddle, a waggle of the tail and a nose lick whenever required, and he always seems to know just when that is needed. He is an absolute joy and we hope to have him PAT registered to visit schools very soon!

Milo belongs to Clare’s daughter Elisa ‘officially’, but also to her! Milo loves to play, chase, and jump around chasing anything that moves, including toes! He is very snuggly and cuddly, purring away as he lays upside down on a lap waiting for a tummy tickle. He even falls asleep in their arms, upside down with his legs in the air, purring noisily. He doesn’t like being on his own and follows Clare and Elisa everywhere around the house and garden.

Elisa had always wanted a kitten to play with, to talk to, and cuddle, especially on days when she hasn’t enjoyed school or has found learning hard. Milo is always so happy to see her when she comes home. Clare says “Having a pet is special and so many children love being able to talk to or cuddle an animal. They help us to feel special, loved and happier inside.”