A riding school providing affordable lessons and therapeutic sessions for vulnerable people has received a grant to help it expand its services.
The Haylemma Centre in Rhymney has been awarded £10,000 from the Coalfields Community Grants Programme.
Distributed by The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) Wales, the grants made to voluntary organisations across the former mining areas of South and North East Wales are in recognition of them having a positive impact on the lives of local residents.
“The awards are given to groups whose actions are making an impact at grass roots level and helping people to connect with their community,” said CRT Wales Operations Manager Siân Sykes.
Set up 18 months ago in Twyn Carno in the north of Caerphilly County Borough to provide therapeutic animal interaction experiences for vulnerable people – alongside riding lessons for riders as young as four – the Haylemma Centre is branching out into training for careers in equestrianism.
Offering affordable riding lessons to beginner and experienced riders, the centre will now provide training to a nationally recognised standard.
Having also given the centre funding to help set it up, CRT’s support will allow it to undertake accreditation from the British Horse Society, Association for British Riding Schools, Riding for the Disabled Association and the Equine Assisted Qualifications Centre.
The centre actively promotes volunteering and it currently has 30 volunteers working in roles from tack cleaners to directors, winning it a nomination for a Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) volunteer award.
Membership of the equestrian associations will allow the centre to offer a wide range of nationally recognised qualifications to riders, staff and volunteers of all ages and abilities.
The centre is also aiming to apply to become a BHS approved centre, attracting new and more experienced riders for training. The CRT grant will support the development of additional revenue streams which will contribute to the centre’s long-term viability.