A riding school in Newcastle city centre is asking for your help this December after being selected to benefit from a huge charity fund.
Any donations made to Stepney Bank Stables between 7-11 December will be matched by the Reed Foundation, the charitable arm of Reed Recruitment Group, as part of the £4.5m Big Give Matched Funding Challenge.
“As a relatively small charity based in the North, this is such an opportunity for us,” Susan Tron, manager of Stepney Bank Stables, told H&H.
“A fundamental part of our work is bringing horse-riding to grass-root levels, so we are really hoping that the horse fraternity will dig deep and donate for us during the Big Give.”
Stepney Bank Stables opened in 1992 as a volunteer-run project, stabling merely two donkeys. Since then, the yard has expanded to accommodate 27 horses and ponies, with more than 400 regular visitors.
In 2003, the stables was one of the first recipients of the Queen’s Award for the Voluntary Sector — one of the highest accolades awarded for outstanding services to local communities.
“We are the only organisation of our kind in the North East, and so we attract a huge number of people from all areas and backgrounds,” said Susan.
“Lots of the children who come to us have emotional or behavioural problems, or are from difficult backgrounds. We try to broaden their horizons and open doors for then.”
Other charities to benefit from the matched funding include WWF-UK and Friends of the Earth.
If you want to donate, you can do so between 7–11 December at www.thebiggive.org.uk <http://www.thebiggive.org.uk/>, where charities are listed alphabetically.
