Horse Rangers Association provide activity days for disadvantaged Richmond children

The Horse Rangers Association in Hampton Court received £5,000 from the Richmond Council towards 10 activity days, involving 10 children per day.

Participants will learn about stable management and horse care and will be given a stable tour to meet the horses. They will learn how to tack up the horses then go for a ride through Bushy Park.

Nicki Wyss from The Horse Rangers Association, said: “We were delighted to receive such a generous grant from the Civic Pride fund as it is so important for us to support our local community. This grant will make a massive difference to disadvantaged children and young people within our local area. Thank you so much to Richmond Council for their generosity.”

Children will also take part in an arts and crafts session where they will decorate bags with pictures of the horses they rode earlier in the day.

They will also learn how to groom the horses. All the children's achievements are acknowledged with a certificate, rosette and horse shoe.

The Horse Rangers Association will work with Achieving for Children and Richmond Carers Centre to find the children and young people most in need.

The Council’s Civic Pride fund is available to individuals or groups who want to organise a project or event to improve their local area and deliver more for their local communities.

Grants of up to £5k are available to organisations and £1k for individuals.

Councillor David Linnette, cabinet member for voluntary services, said: “Providing services for disadvantaged children is a number one priority for the Council. As is supporting those young people who have to care for a family member.

“Horse Rangers are dedicated to supporting children and young people from all backgrounds and abilities by giving them the opportunity to develop confidence and life skills through learning to ride and care for horses. This is exactly the type of project that Civic Pride was designed to support.”